CUB Accomplishments
- 2023 - CUB’s work saved Oregon customers $224,371,000 million
CUB saved customers more than $224 million in 2023. These savings came from a series of rate cases for PGE and Avista utilities. CUB reduced profit margins, stopped unnecessary investments, and eliminated oversized executive compensation. In all cases, CUB held utilities accountable for providing service at an affordable cost.
- 2023 - Regulators Reject NW Natural’s Flawed Emissions Reduction Plan
Oregon is moving forward in reducing climate pollution from our energy systems. Utilities need clear plans to show how they will meet regulations without skyrocketing costs for customers.
This year, NW Natural failed to meet both expectations and CUB stood strongly in opposition to the utility’s plan. Regulators agreed with CUB and rejected much of NW Natural’s flawed plan to reduce emissions. Now, NW Natural must come up with a more reasonable and affordable plan or the company – not customers – could shoulder the compliance costs.
Since that win, Oregon’s other two gas utilities have filed plans very similar to NW Natural’s. These plans will have long-lasting impacts on meeting state climate goals. They will also have major impacts on future customer bills. While stopping NW Natural’s plan was a good first step, we will continue pushing back on plans from the other gas utilities’, Avista and Cascade.
- 2023 - Moving Oregon Toward 100% Clean Electricity
In 2021, Oregon passed the CUB-supported 100% Clean Electricity Bill. Now, Pacific Power and Portland General Electric must run on 100% clean, emission-free electricity by 2040.
CUB and other advocates weighed in as the electric utilities created their plans. With CUB’s urging, regulators have expanded traditional utility planning to include community focuses. Although these Clean Energy Plans are still in progress, CUB is hopeful that we are on the right track. We are continuing to advocate for realistic and cost-effective planning while holding utilities’ feet to the fire in 2024.
- 2023 - Stronger Protections for Landline Customers
Over the past year, regulators have received complaints about CenturyLink’s landline telephone service in Southern Oregon. After months of CUB advocacy, regulators ordered that CenturyLink make major changes to fix service issues.
By working with communities most impacted, we have seen a groundswell of support for holding CenturyLink accountable. The fight is not over and we will continue to push back in 2024!
- 2023 - Building(s) for an Equitable Energy Future (2023 Conference)
Each year, CUB brings together community groups, regulators, advocates, and utilities at our annual Energy Policy Conference. By coming together, we help expand who has a voice in energy policy in Oregon.
This year, we made connections between nearly 250 professionals from community advocates, the energy industry, the buildings industry, and policymakers. The conference brought vital perspectives from communities on the front lines of climate change in the Pacific Northwest. Together, we can build an energy transition that works for all of us!
- 2023 - Expanding Access to Energy-Efficient Homes
This spring, CUB helped pass the Building Resilience Package (HB 3409). More efficient buildings can significantly lower energy bills while making our homes more comfortable. This new CUB-supported law will improve state programs to support electric heat pumps, improve codes for new construction, and add other building efficiency measures.
- 2023 - CUB Protects Customers from Wildfire Liability
Over the summer, Pacific Power was found responsible for some of the 2020 Labor Day fires. The utility turned around and made moves to charge customers for the damages. CUB immediately jumped into action to protect Pacific Power customers against potentially billions in costs from wildfire liability. We will continue to push back and hold utilities responsible for wrongdoing.
“This is outrageous. Customers pay the costs of prudent, reasonable utility operations. The court found that Pacific Power was reckless and grossly negligent, and included punitive damages meant to punish the company, not customers. Customers should not pay a dime of these costs.” - Bob Jenks, Executive Director
- 2023 - CUB Fights Bill Increases in 2023
This year, CUB fought bill increases for customers across Oregon. For Portland General Electric customers in Northwest Oregon, we slashed $34 million off the requested increase. For Avista Gas customers in Southern and Eastern Oregon, we eliminated subsidies for expanding fossil fuel infrastructure and costs for lobbying and fossil fuel trade associations. Avista also must prioritize non-pipe solutions, saving Oregon from becoming more tied to fossil fuels.
- 2022 - CUB saved customers more than $250 million
CUB saved customers more than $250 million in 2022. These savings came from a series of rate cases for PGE, Pacific Power, Northwest Natural Gas, and Avista utilities. CUB reduced profit margins, stopped unnecessary investments, and eliminated oversized executive compensation. In all cases, CUB held utilities accountable for providing service at an affordable cost. CUB’s advocacy cut PGE’s rate increase by $80 million. In the case of Avista Utilities, we were able to get a rate decrease implemented in August.
- 2022 - More Investment in Rural Broadband
CUB successfully supported legislation to expand broadband investment for rural Oregon. This new law allows Oregon to receive $157 million in federal funding. These new investments will bring broadband to rural communities where it is not available. New funds will also support bill assistance for households that cannot afford broadband.
- 2022 - Eliminating Deposits for Residential Utility Customers
Paying a large deposit to a utility company is one more barrier to finding housing for low-income and vulnerable Oregonians. CUB won an agreement with PGE to eliminate deposits for all residential customers and from NW Natural for new customers.
- 2022 - Stronger Protections for Low-Income Households Against Disconnections and More
CUB won changes to Oregon’s utility consumer protection rules with state regulators. These new protections will end late payments charges for low-income customers, prevent shut off in extreme weather conditions, and eliminate deposits for low-income customers.
- 2022 - More Equitable Electric Transportation Planning
After several years of advocacy, electric transportation in Oregon is on its way to becoming more equitable. CUB helped establish holistic planning processes for electric transportation in Oregon. New requirements by regulators will improve how utilities evaluate investments to serve electric vehicles. These new rules aim to prioritize serving renters, low-income households, multifamily housing, schools, and public transit.
- 2022 - Heat Relief for Oregonians Law Passed
CUB successfully supported legislation to make it easier for renters and low-income households to access cooling technologies, such as air conditioners and heat pumps. There is now $5 million for emergency air conditioners, $25 million for heat pumps (high-efficiency heating and cooling), and $4.5 million for warming and cooling centers.
This law was made possible by the hard work of health professionals, energy advocates, and environmental justice organizations.
- 2022 - New Low-Income Bill Discount Programs
CUB helped design new low-income discount programs. These programs save qualified customers between 20-90% on their monthly energy bills. Discounts are being offered by PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Avista Utilities, and Cascade Natural Gas.
- 2022 - Stopped Unnecessary Investments in Natural Gas (Methane) System
CUB advocated that Cascade Natural Gas should cut back on its new investments in gas pipelines. State utility regulators agreed and rejected the new investments. Instead, Cascade will look to alternative, lower-cost methods to manage peak demand for gas.
- 2022 - Eliminated Customer-Funded Pro-Fossil Fuel Advertising
NW Natural wanted customers to pay $1 million per year in promotional advertising. Under current regulations, customers should not be charged for this type of advertising. CUB was able to eliminate this expense in the 2022 rate case.
- 2022 - Cutting Customer-Funded Subsidies for Gas Expansion
CUB’s advocacy cut in half the subsidies that NW Natural customers pay to expand the gas system. With the increasing use of efficient electric heat pumps to heat and cool buildings and requirements to reduce gas system GHG emissions, these subsidies are no longer justifiable.
In 2022, each new gas hookup cost customers $2875. The company was set to spend approximately $28 million annually to add 10,000 customers each year for the foreseeable future. CUB’s advocacy will save NW Natural customers tens of millions of dollars on expansion subsidies.
- 2022 - Curbing Winter Heating Bills
NW Natural and Pacific Power customers were facing huge increases on their winter heating bills. CUB worked with utilities and regulators to reduce these increases to keep rates as affordable as possible through the winter. By delaying much of these bill increases until the spring, more households can stay warm and avoid disconnection.