Advancing energy democracy
Across the state, Oregon families are facing rising utility bills, inflation, and extreme weather events like ice storms and heat domes.
The transition to a clean energy future is already underway, but it is up to us to make sure that it is fair and equitable. That means fostering energy democracy, a movement to make sure there is meaningful community input in our energy system.
When people have a real say in the decisions that affect our lives, our energy system will be more affordable and sustainable. Our goals include lowering utility bills, ensuring corporate transparency, and making energy incentives easier to access.
Energy Affordability
Oregon families need to know what they are paying for and when their utility bills could increase. This bill puts customer affordability front and center when setting rates. It also helps customers understand what they’re paying for by requiring utilities to report on their corporate expenses.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency helps lower-income Oregonians reduce energy costs, but upgrades are often expensive and incentives can be hard to access. This bill expands on the 2023 "One Stop Shop" by adding a proactive, regionally based navigation system and better aligning the many incentive programs.
Get the Junk Out of Rates
For-profit utilities are raising our utility bills instead of tightening their belts like the rest of us. Things like expensive lawyers and lobbyists, advertising, and industry association fees should come out of company profits, not our pockets. We’ll get millions of dollars of “junk” out of our utility rates.
A note on the artwork: The energy democracy pyramid was lent to us by Energy Democracy Project and is the work of artist Jason Killinger.