More Accomplishments

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.

2022 - Oregon Regulators Stall Pacific Power’s Plans to Finalize Deal on Natrium Nuclear Plant

Pacific Power filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan with Oregon regulators in December 2021. The utility’s plan included Natrium, a small modular reactor nuclear plant to be built in an old coal plant in Wyoming. CUB’s analysis found that the Natrium plan involved unreasonable risks and costs for customers. Oregon regulators agreed with our analysis and did not acknowledge the utility’s plan as presented.

Nuclear projects often end up with ballooning costs that far exceed expectations. Pacific Power presented its plan to complete its deal with the company that would build Natrium. CUB’s review found that the plan had little to no information on the costs and possible risks of this untested nuclear technology. This outcome demonstrates CUB’s success in protecting Oregon customers from the costs of reckless utility investments.

2022 - CUB Members Take Action on Pacific Power, NW Natural Rate Increases

As part of our effort to fight double-digit rate increases requested by Pacific Power and NW Natural, CUB organized our members to make a strong showing through both written and oral comments to the Public Utility Commission. Customers spoke about the high energy burdens they face, and expressed concerns at the utilities’ proposals to increase their profit margins and use customer payments to fund executive and employee bonuses.

In all, 271 CUB members submitted written comments and eight CUB members spoke at the public hearings. CUB is grateful to all our members who participated in these campaigns and strengthened our voice in advocating for residential customers.

2022 - CUB Secures Customer Savings, End of Deposits in Portland General Electric Rate Case

CUB won approval from Oregon regulators to end residential deposits for customers of Portland General Electric in its 2022 rate case. Deposits contribute to housing insecurity while doing nothing to improve service.

The company had requested a $59 million rate increase which was whittled down to $10 million. Regulators rejected PGE’s request to use this case to recover costs from its Faraday hydroelectric facility, which would have been highly irregular. Regulators also sided with CUB on equitable cost sharing in repairing the utility’s systems after major storm damage. And CUB won an agreement to track and refund any overpayments from customers that were used to fund the Boardman coal plant after its closure in fall 2020.

2022 - Portland General Electric Launches Interim Income-Qualified Rates Program

CUB’s advocacy was critical in passing 2021’s Energy Affordability Bill. That legislation allowed Oregon regulators to consider household income in setting utility rates. In April 2022, Portland General Electric was the first to roll out an interim version of its income-qualified bill discount program.

Income guidelines match those of the Oregon Energy Assistance Program. The program has three tiers, with those households at the lowest income level (at or below 30% of the Oregon’s median) receiving a 25% bill discount. Other utilities’ interim programs are expected in late 2022 and CUB is working closely with the utilities and other stakeholders on design of the long-term programs to follow.

2022 - CUB Helps Pass REBuilding Task Force bill

CUB worked with a diverse coalition to pass SB 1518 in the 2022 legislative session. This bill created the Resilient Energy Efficient Building (REBuilding) Task Force. The Task Force was assigned to examine building greenhouse gas reduction policies, including building codes, and recommend policies for 2023 to make new and existing buildings more climate friendly. Buildings are the second largest and longest-lasting source of climate pollution in Oregon. More efficient buildings mean lower energy bills now and less pollution for future generations. CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks was appointed to the task force which began meeting regularly in April 2022.

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