Basic Charge
The Basic Charge supports fixed costs such as meter reading, equipment, maintenance and billing necessary to serve customers, regardless of the amount of energy used. You pay the basic charge even if no electricity is used. It is a charge for having service available.

Energy Use Charge
The Energy Use Charge is the amount of electricity used multiplied by the cost for energy as stated in your rate schedule. For residential customers, kilowatt-hour (kWh) charges are on a tiered rate structure: The first 250 kWh of energy used will be at a lower price per kWh than energy used above that amount. Energy charges for Time of Use customers will be broken out into different rate periods.

Transmission and distribution charges
Transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of bringing power to you. Previously, these charges were included in your Basic Charge and Energy Use Charge. The charges are now broken out so you can see the cost of maintaining the utility poles, lines, substations, transmission towers and other equipment.

Green Mountain Energy
If you opt to support either Green Source^SM or Healthy Habitat^SM renewable power provided by Green Mountain Energy Co., a separate charge for this option will appear on your bill. Green Mountain Energy Co. was selected to offer the Green Source and Healthy Habitat products to PGE customers through 2008.

Adjustments
Adjustments are listed separately from your energy costs for transparency and because they often change. Some will eventually go away while new ones may be added. Others may periodically change from charges to credits or credits to charges. An explanation of each item is available online or call PGE Customer Service at 503-228-6322 or 800-542-8818.

Low Income Assistance
This fee is mandated in legislation. The purpose of this fee 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 CAP agencies within PGE’s service territory. The CAP agencies use the federal LIEAP program criteria to determine assistance eligibility.

Public Purpose Charge (3 percent)
This is a 10-year fee (through March 1, 2011) for the purpose of funding energy efficiency, renewable resources, low-income energy efficiency and housing and energy efficiency in schools. This charge is mandated by legislation. PGE does not keep this money. It is passed on to various organizations that are responsible for these programs, such as the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Late payment charge
A late payment charge of 1.5 percent may be applied to past-due billings.

When you move
Please notify your local PGE office at least five days before you move. This allows us to schedule the reading of your meter and insures that service will be available at your new location if your move is within the PGE service territory.

Employee identification
Our employees carry PGE identification with a photograph. Please do not hesitate to ask for identification before admitting a PGE employee to your premises.

Payments
Mail your payment to the following address:
PGE
P.O. Box 4438
Portland, OR 97208

If you have enrolled in an E-bill program, you will be paying your bill electronically. However, if your payment is past due, you will receive a notice through the mail. If you receive a past-due notice, please call PGE at 800-542-8818 or 503-228-6322. You may have to make your payment at a PGE office or Express Pay location.

If your check is returned unpaid due to insufficient or uncollected funds, we may resubmit it to your bank electronically.

PGE offices

Oregon Public Utility Commission

Federal Employer’s ID #93-0256820

Know your rights and responsibilities
Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as an Oregon utility customer.