CUB in the News - most recent

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Frontier's technical leap worries Oregon regulators Oregonian 08/15/09 – [R]egulators have concerns about the scale of the deal and resulting economic challenges....the utility commission wants Frontier to agree not to take profits out of Oregon until the company achieves certain measures of financial stability. And though state regulators have no direct authority over Internet and cable service, Dougherty said they want Frontier to extend those protections, called "ringfencing," to fiber service, too....Bob Jenks, director of the Citizens Utility Board, an Oregon consumer watchdog, says the ringfencing proposal is essential. Like others, he's worried Frontier may be out of its depth with Verizon's fiber network. "That's a real concern. Do they know what they're getting into?" he said. "Can they handle that, and if they can't what's the response if they find it more convenient to start cutting things?" Frontier's inexperience is a concern, Jenks said. But if Verizon doesn't want to be here, perhaps Oregon will be better off. "Sometimes," he said, "it's to your advantage to get rid of an owner who doesn't want to own something."

Wind power throws a curve at the BPA Oregonian 07/20/09 – [BPA's] rate increase imposed on wind producers came in at about 90 percent. And while that sounds large, it is a fraction of the 300 percent increase that the agency announced earlier this year -- a figure that created a firestorm of criticism....The BPA says the lower rate increase resulted from efforts by the wind power industry to improve its forecasting and operational practices, allowing the federal hydro system to operate with lower emergency reserves. But the agency's tack also reflects the change in political winds that blew in with the Obama administration. The administration, through the Department of Energy, is making renewables a centerpiece of its energy and climate change policies. A minor issue five years ago, integrating more wind power is now the Gordian knot that the BPA has been tasked with unraveling. "This is the biggest issue for BPA with the Obama administration," said Bob Jenks, executive director of the Citizens' Utility Board. And for BPA chief executive Wright, he said, the rate case focus on wind "is the signal to his bosses in Washington that he gets it."

Oregon's renewable-energy standard in flux? Oregonian 06/26/09 – Jeff Bissonnette, a lobbyist for the Citizens' Utility Board, said the bill [HB 3039] sets a dangerous precedent. The policy decision in 2007 was to treat all renewables the same when it came to crediting them toward the renewable energy standard. With large solar projects getting a 2-for-1 credit, consumers aren't getting the full value of the law, he said. "What's the next technology? Does wave energy come in and say 'We need 4 to 1 in order to survive'?" he said.

Murmurs Willamette Week 06/03/09 – Let the sun shine: Few bills have been amended (16 times!), tweaked or fought over so bitterly as House Bill 3039A, which appears on track to produce a 25-megawatt solar pilot project to brighten the prospects of Oregon’s exploding solar manufacturing sector. Conflict over whether utilities should get extra credit for solar installations under the state’s tough renewable energy standards nearly scuttled the bill. Citizens’ Utility Board lobbyist Jeff Bissonette says his group and others including Renewable Northwest Project fought that giveaway. “That was the first time CUB has ever opposed a solar bill in my 11 years in the legislature,” Bissonette says. The bill passed the House and is now headed for conference committee to iron out remaining differences between House and Senate visions for the solar industry.

Timetable proposed for Boardman coal plant cleanup Oregonian 06/01/09 – Ratepayer advocates worry that the utility could spend millions to control sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, then end up closing the plant if regulation of carbon dioxide emissions kicks in to combat global warming. "The worst-case scenario for customers is they're being asked to make a $500 million investment in a plant that's going to be shut down because of climate change in a few years," said Bob Jenks, executive director of the Citizens' Utility Board.

Klamath Basin: A time to choose Oregonian - guest opinion 05/30/09 – So there are two choices: One is to keep the dams in place and pursue relicensing, a course that guarantees many years of expensive litigation and, if successful, expensive structural and operational changes. Under this option, all expenses will be covered through rate increases which will be passed on to you the rate payer. The other choice is to resolve issues through settlement resulting in dam removal, avoid most litigation, and cap costs to rate payers. We think settlement is a better deal for ratepayers. The Citizens' Utility Board, a Portland-based group that advocates for Oregon ratepayers, agrees and supports SB76, which is designed to cap settlement-based costs to rate payers.

Utility Payment Plan For Klamath Dam Removal Approved OPB News 6/22/09 – State lawmakers signed off on a plan...that would help pay for the removal of the four Klamath Dams.... But dam removal is far from a certainty – and still requires farmers, tribes, and fisherman to sign a final settlement. The bill caps ratepayer costs and creates a trust fund to pay for dam removal, if it's finally approved by the Secretary of the Interior....Bob Jenks: “Pacificorp is going to have to come in and prove that this is the best deal for customers. And what you are really doing there, in my mind, is comparing taking out the dams under this agreement, versus not taking out the dams." Jenks says he’s not against keeping the dams – if it saves ratepayers’ money. Tribes, environmentalists and others say the dams must go. The settlement agreement could be signed by the end of the summer.

LNG fight at Capitol gets personal Oregonian 4/27/09 – Two opponents of the LNG projects took the unusual step of picketing Read's home, waving placards, handing out leaflets to neighbors and denouncing "Rep. Bias Greed."....Since then, however, other environmental groups have been dissociating themselves from the LNG vitriol, worried that legislative leaders might spike other environmental legislation if they get too close to the acrimonious debate. "I heard from staff people (of House leadership) that this was an issue that needs to be taken seriously," said Jeff Bissonnette, a director and lobbyist for the Citizens' Utility Board. CUB is a member of the Oregon Conservation Network, which sent its own letter to House leadership criticizing the tactics. "There's an emotional reaction to an emotional reaction here."

Electric utilities fight curbs on carbon emissions Oregonian 4/13/09 – Oregon's two largest electric utilities are scrambling to head off limits on the amount of carbon their power plants emit, warning legislators of massive rate increases if they're forced to comply with Oregon's greenhouse gas reduction goal. Portland General Electric says it would have to spend $12.6 billion, increase its customers electric rates by 120 percent...PacifiCorp has told state energy regulators that it would need to spend some $4.5 billion and raise rates by 54 percent....Bob Jenks, executive director of the Citizen's Utility Board of Oregon, said he hasn't seen any of the utilities' economic analyses of the proposed carbon limits. ...Jenks was skeptical they [PacifiCorp] would need a wholesale switch to renewables. "The utilities have an amazing ability to exaggerate costs," Jenks said. "Everything they can throw at this to delay it, we're going to see the kitchen sink."

Oregon lawmakers eye Energy Trust's fat bankbook Oregonian 3/14/09 – [Sen. Larry George, R-Sherwood] has teamed with Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, on a bill that would shift about $100 million of the Energy Trust's $130 million budget to pay for upgrades to schools and other public buildings, with schools getting the biggest share. Energy Trust supporters say the group is simply carrying out the will of the Legislature, which approved a 3 percent tax on utilities in 1999 to pay for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects. That led to the formation of the Energy Trust in 2002, and trust officials say their conservation efforts have saved enough energy to power 232,000 homes. "It doesn't make much sense to us to upend a system that's been working well for seven years," says Jeff Bissonnette, a lobbyist for the Citizens' Utility Board. The debate reflects rising tensions in Salem. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other Democratic leaders are pushing hard to advance green energy and technology while also dealing with the worst economic bust in decades.

A Mighty Wind Willamette Week cover story 3/11/09 – Is the development of wind worth the public investment? .... Subsidies, both direct and indirect, have long played a crucial role in energy development. Oil, natural gas and mining companies enjoy a variety of tax benefits, cheap access to federal lands, and limited responsibility for the pollution they create. As a consequence, many Oregonians and most members of the environmental community say that in order for Oregon to shift to green energy, subsidies are necessary to wean consumers from their fossil fuel addiction. “We need to fundamentally change our energy policy away from fossil fuels, which are destroying the earth,” says Bob Jenks, director of the Citizens’ Utility Board. “You can price carbon to include the real cost of fossil fuels through cap and trade, or you can subsidize the alternatives.”

Senate panel OKs dam removal fee Oregonian 02/11/09 – A legislative committee on Tuesday approved a plan to pay for removing Klamath River dams with a surcharge on Oregon ratepayers --a step supporters say is necessary to salve long-running disputes over water, salmon and other resources in the Klamath Basin…Those supporting the bill that advanced Tuesday argue that Oregon ratepayers could end up paying much more if the dams are left in place and must be upgraded to meet requirements for a new operating license. Preliminary estimates say cost of those improvements, including new fish ladders and screens, could exceed $300 million. “Ratepayers have two choices: It's a rate cap, or going through re-licensing," said Craig Tucker, Klamath coordinator for the Karuk Tribe of California. "This is a pretty darn good deal for ratepayers compared to re-licensing costs." The bill includes a review process to protect Oregon ratepayers, said Jeff Bissonette, organizing director for the Citizens Utility Board of Oregon. "We're comfortable with seeing this bill go forward," he said.

Rate increase, weather add to electricity bills: PGE had to estimate some usage because of December storms Statesman Journal 02/03/2009 – The Citizen's Utility Board, an advocacy group for residential utility customers, said estimated bills, combined with unusual weather, is a bad combination. "It's generally a bad practice," said Bob Jenks, executive director of the group. "Bills should be accurate, and estimated bills are apparently not accurate. Part of what you pay for in a bill is good billing practices." Jenks said January often is the most expensive bill for residential customers. "It's a bill that people are oftentimes going to have trouble paying, and you've made it even higher," Jenks said. "It's good that you ultimately don't overpay, but it's shifting money to a time that is hard to pay it."

A shockingly higher electric bill Oregonian 01/07/09 – The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved PGE's proposal last year to replace its aging fleet of electrical meters, overriding the objections of ratepayer advocates who felt the technology wasn't ready for prime time. The advanced meters can communicate with the utility via a two-way transmitter for remote service provisioning, monitoring and billing…Conservation is one of the prime advertised benefits of smart meters, but was also the chief reason that ratepayer advocates objected to PGE's plan. The Citizens' Utility Board asked regulators to hold off approving PGE's smart meter program until the technology was mature, and utilities in larger neighboring states such as California had worked out the kinks. PGE, they point out, is already replacing 3,500 smart meters that it installed in 2001.…The Citizens' Utility Board asked regulators to hold off approving PGE's smart meter program until the technology was mature, and utilities in larger neighboring states such as California had worked out the kinks.