“Too many Oregonians are struggling with high energy bills.” –Governor Tina Kotek
There is nothing like the March Madness college basketball tournament. Life stops as we marvel over buzzer-beaters, become inspired by Cinderella stories, and despair over our busted brackets.
The tournament is so thrilling, it’s easy to forget the crazy things happening off the hardwood, such as the state of Oregon going to federal court to increase electricity bills for 1 million of its residents.
Even more jaw-dropping was the state of Oregon’s reaction when the judge ruled in its favor last month—celebrating as though it had just advanced to the Final Four.
A senior citizen on a fixed income will likely not feel the same elation. There should be no net-cutting ceremony for raising electricity rates on people who must sometimes choose between their power bill or medicine. There are only losers in this game.
Oregon’s electric co-ops take pride in serving areas no one wanted to serve because there was no profit in it—and we work hard to keep rates affordable for our members. But as customers of Bonneville Power Administration, we also take our responsibility to salmon seriously and prove it by funding the world’s largest fish and wildlife mitigation program.
We have also taken the stance that it’s always better to talk about—and not fight over—the future operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System. The state of Oregon has chosen otherwise.
Learn more about our efforts to protect our members and the federal hydroelectric system that is the backbone of our region’s energy grid. Read how Oregon last month made electricity less reliable and affordable for 1 million residents.
