PGE works hard to keep prices reasonable

Electricity prices will rise next year. On Feb. 27, PGE filed a rate case with the Oregon Public Utility Commission proposing an overall 8.9 percent price increase for 2009. For Schedule 32 and Schedule 83, the estimated base change is 7.7 percent. But after supplemental pricing adjustments,* the estimated change would be 5.8 percent for Schedule 32 and 6.0 percent for Schedule 83.

The OPUC will make a final decision later this year after a thorough 10-month review process. To provide input regarding the proposal, visit the OPUC Web site.

PGE works hard to keep prices reasonable and to control costs. But a number of factors outside of PGE are driving this increase. Natural gas and coal (to operate generating plants), wholesale power and materials have all jumped in price. In fact, materials we use frequently, such as overhead wire, poles and transformers, have shot up an average of 77 percent in just five years. These rising costs and other factors make a rate change necessary.

Find more information about PGE pricing online in our Current Issues section.

* This includes preliminary estimates of Schedule 105 Regulatory Adjustments and Schedule 126 Annual Power Cost Variance Mechanism, which are both expected to be effective Jan. 1, 2009. It also includes estimated prices for Schedules 109, 110, 111 and 140, all of which are expected to be effective June 1, 2008.