Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board | SOCAN General Meeting

In exchange for being awarded regional monopolies for the delivery of electricity or gas, Oregon’s utilities are regulated by the State-appointed Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC). Any utility plans to expand service or impose rate increases must first be submitted to, reviewed, and approved by the PUC, but only after public comments have been solicited and reviewed.

For more than four decades, the Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) has been Oregon’s leading utility watchdog, ensuring that households and small businesses are represented in utility decisions.  SOCAN frequently submits comments to the PUC on utility requests, often employing analyses developed by CUB staff.

In 2025, the work of the CUB contributed to tangible wins: protecting customers from unnecessary rate hikes, pushing utilities to accelerate clean energy investments, and holding regulators accountable to Oregon’s climate goals. Their victories this year highlight the power of community advocacy in shaping a more affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy future for all Oregonians.

SOCAN’s September general public meeting from 6:00 – 7:30 on Tuesday September 30^th at the Medford Public Library, 205 S. Central Avenue, will focus on what CUB is doing. The program will feature David Betrán Barajas, Community Organizer, and Jennifer Hill-Hart, Policy & Program Director. During the program, they will discuss what is CUB and identify recent legislative and utility policy wins they have enjoyed, notably the POWER Act, Avista Gas wins, and FAIR Energy Act. They will also preview anticipated CUB campaigns.

There is no charge for attending SOCAN events