For detailed information about pricing schedule and bill, you can also see our Tariff approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Front of statement
Account Number
First 9 Digits = Customer Number, which always stays with you, even if you move
Next 5 digits = Premise number is a location identifier, and always stays with the premises
Last digit = check digit, an internal number used for payment processing
Meter Reading Cycle
The first two digits in this code identify your meter reading cycle. If you want to know the dates each month when your meter will be read, use these numbers to check our online meter reading schedule.
Feeder Line Code
This number identifies the specific power lines that serve your location. In the event of an outage, it helps PGE communicate with you about the timing of service restoration.
Point of Deliver Identification (PODID) Number
Sometimes, PGE needs to change the meter number or customer account number. But this PODID number is constant and helps PGE identify the point where PGE’s facilities end and your service begins.
Bill Summary
This is a quick overview of the monthly charges and adjustments, which are broken out in detail on the back of the bill.
Account Balance
Payments, fees, adjustments and current charges are totaled here with current amount due and due date highlighted.
Your Energy Use
Electrical energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is 1,000 watts used for one hour. This section shows your total kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage and meter readings.
The meter multiplier number is the constant by which consumption is calculated. The meter reading is multiplied by this factor to determine actual usage, because on larger loads the current is too large to pass through the meter.
This section also identifies your pricing schedule. Every customer is charged based on pricing schedules approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Monthly Usage Chart
This gives the kilowatt-hour usage for the current month compared to the same month in the previous year. The bar chart shows the monthly usage for the last 13 months.
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Back of statement
Basic Charge
The basic fee you pay to have PGE provide electricity. It supports fixed costs such as meter reading, equipment, maintenance and billing necessary to serve customers. You pay the basic charge even if no electricity is used; it is a charge for having service available.
System Usage Charge
This per-kilowatt-hour charge includes energy-related expenses that customers have to pay regardless of whether they take Direct Access or not. Since as a Schedule 83 customer you are eligible for Direct Access, this charge is itemized separately on your bill. For residential accounts (Schedule 7) and small nonresidential accounts (Schedule 32), the system usage charge is embedded in the energy rate.
Off-Peak Usage
This charge is figured on the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity you use during off-peak hours when demand for electricity is lower. Off-peak hours vary by pricing schedule; see our Tariff section for details.
On-Peak Usage
A charge figured on the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity you use during on-peak hours when demand for electricity is higher. On-peak hours vary by pricing schedule; see our Tariff section for details.
Demand
On-peak demand charges are assessed to customers with demands greater than 30 kW. While your system usage charge reflects how many kilowatt-hours of electricity you used, demand reflects the maximum rate of electricity delivered. To determine your monthly demand, we measure your highest average usage over a 30-minute period — that’s your demand. It is not the instantaneous peak kW in a 30-minute period.
If an account demand exceeds 30 kW at least twice in a 13-month period (or once in the first seven months of a new account), that account moves from Schedule 32 to Schedule 83. It’s often a sign that a business is growing.
Demand charges help cover the costs of reserving and providing peak capacity. We need to be prepared to meet our customers’ maximum load requirements at any time.
Businesses that operate a lot of equipment at the same time demand a lot of power at once, which translates into higher demand charges. You may be able to lower these costs by turning off unnecessary equipment, staggering equipment use or scheduling new operations when other equipment is off. Investing in energy-efficient equipment, lighting and HVAC systems is another tool to reducing the rate of energy usage and thus demand. PGE’s Energy Monitoring services can help identify areas for adjustment. For more information on energy management, see our Energy Savings section or contact our Business Services team.
Reactive Demand
Reactive demand is the result of current flow that does no work yet is needed by most types of magnetic equipment, such as motors. Metered in kilovars (kVAR), it is measured the same way demand is measured, the highest average usage over a 30-minute period.
You are allowed a certain amount of reactive power each month but may be charged for excess kVAR of reactive power. If you are paying for reactive demand, it may be cost-effective to install capacitors or adjustable speed drives to improve equipment efficiency. For assistance in determining the appropriate equipment and how it should be installed, contact our Business Services team.
Transmission Charge
This charge covers the cost of transporting bulk power from the supply source to the PGE distribution system.
Distribution Charge (Facility Capacity)
This charge covers the cost of the utility poles, lines, substations and other equipment within PGE’s service territory that brings power to you. It is determined by your facility capacity, which is the average of the two highest monthly demand levels in the past 12 months, including the month of your current bill.
We use the facility capacity to determine this charge because it is a more accurate distribution of costs among customers; each customer helps pay for distribution system costs relative to the demands they put on the system.
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Adjustments
Adjustments are listed separately from your energy costs for transparency and because they often change. Adjustments may be added, expire or change from charges to credits or credits to charges. To learn about an adjustment, see the adjustment schedules or call PGE Business Services at one of the following numbers.
- Portland: 503-228-6322
- Salem: 503-399-7717
- Outside Portland/Salem: 800-822-1077
- TTY Relay for the hearing impaired: 800-735-2900
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Taxes and fees
Taxes are assessed on accounts located in cities or counties that have this fee. If your accounts are not located in locations that assess this fee, you will not see any charges on your account.
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Low-income assistance
The purpose of this fee, mandated by Oregon legislation, is to provide stable funding for low-income customers who cannot pay their electric bills. PGE does not keep this money but passes it on to the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services, which then distributes the funds to the various agencies that serve low-income clients within PGE’s service territory. The agencies use the same criteria to determine low-income standards as those used for the federal Low-Income Energy Assistance program.
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Public Purpose Charge
PGE does not keep this 3 percent charge, which is mandated by Oregon legislation. The funds are passed on to the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department and various Educational Service Districts to fund energy efficiency and renewable power programs, and energy conservation assistance to schools and low-income residents within PGE’s service area.
Your organization might be eligible to benefit from the Energy Trust of Oregon’s energy efficiency or renewable power programs. For information on available incentives see the Energy Savings section or contact the Business Services team.
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