A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Portland General Electric is asking the Oregon Public Utility Commission to approve a 7.4 percent rate increase that would go into effect in January 2011.
If adopted, the increase could add about $6.70 to the bill of a typical residential customer using 900 kilowatts each month.
The proposal must be approved by the PUC, which involves months of investigation, calculations and hearings. The proposed rate increase probably won’t be approved until late this year, according to PGE officials.
PGE’s request includes costs associated with completing the third phase of the utility’s Biglow Canyon Wind Farm in Sherman County, relicensing of hydropower facilities on the Clackamas River, increased health insurance premiums for employees and updated information technology systems.
The costs are partially offset by reduced cost projections for wholesale power and fuel purchases.
The request also includes both capital costs and operational savings stemming from completion of a new network of smart meters.
“No one likes seeing higher electric bills,” said PGE President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Piro. “We are doing everything we can to be efficient and cost effective in our business while also helping our customers take control of their energy bills with energy efficiency ideas and flexible payment options, including payment assistance resources.”
PGE provides electricity to more than 818,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon.
PGE is the hungry Elephant in OPUC's room. Friends of all our regulators they be. OREGON'S PUBLIC UTIITY COMMISSION should pay more attention to the consumer interests, instead of letting the PGE lobbyists wine and dine them. Now they want us to all pay for another one of their poor investments. Aaargh!
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 05:12 AM
PGE is ENRON under a sanitized name. When all the crooks who run the place are in jail, then - and only then - should PGE/ENRON get consideration.
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 06:20 AM
ENRON 2.0
Because these people (if politicians are people)
KNOW YOU WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT . . .
they'll keep doing it.
They are marketed to you and when that doesn't work they lie to you . . .
. . . and when you are given the opportunity to actually do something about it - you don't.
Sending the message to one of them is sending the message to ALL of them.
Support the recall.
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 09:34 AM
Please take special note of this line:
"The request also includes both capital costs and operational savings stemming from completion of a new network of smart meters."
These new meters WILL save PGE money in 2011. They will do so by improving efficiency of service and will allow them to CUT staff/labor costs. PGE stands to reap heavy savings next year without any concern over the energy market. Part of this will be at a high price to PGE customers, a PGE staff reduction or lack of growth that puts more people on unemployment and keeps others on it.
(also, I have "friends in the medical community" that might say a rate increase in 2011 is bad for Oregon's health...)
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Three words: Public Utility District. Anybody regret their vote against converting PGE to a public utility without the ridiculous CEO salaries? The extra money paid PGE through its "green power" scam is supposed to pay for these new wind projects. Talk about double billing!
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 03:52 PM
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Re: PGE asks state for 7.4 percent rate increase in 2011
Come on, I live in a two bedroom apartment and my bill is already $130 a month in the winter. I have no Kids and I am hardly home. How mucha are we going to have to pay?
"MJLJ"
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 01:03 AM