How will PGE serve customers in the future? We know demand for electricity is growing. In fact, projections show more than a 45 percent load growth for PGE during the next 20 years. Existing resources alone are not enough to meet that demand.

Planning for future energy needs
PGE develops an Integrated Resource Plan outlining our strategy for meeting future energy needs. The plan is the result of two years of research, analysis and extensive public input and debate designed to identify a portfolio of resources that offers the best combination of cost and risk. Utilities issue integrated resource plans every few years to reflect new technologies, market conditions and regulatory requirements.

PGE recently kicked off our 2013 integrated resource planning cycle, with outreach to customers, regulators and other stakeholders for input on our energy strategy, opportunities and priorities.

Seeking sustainable, affordable resources
As we work to secure Oregon’s energy future, PGE is committed to finding sustainable and affordable options to meet our customers’ electricity needs. As we consider new resources to add to our generation mix and help us meet Oregon’s renewable energy standards, we are continuously researching, monitoring and analyzing new renewable options.

PGE continues to invest in renewable power projects, such as our Biglow Canyon Wind Farm. They’re just one part of the diverse, multipronged approach PGE has mapped out for future energy planning. Other steps include:

• Providing energy-efficiency information to help customers save money and reduce their carbon footprints. PGE continues to advocate energy efficiency as one of the most cost-effective, sustainable energy resources available — and it’s the first resource we seek to capture in our resource plan, before we consider new generating resources.
• Upgrading existing power plants to be more efficient.
• Investing in transmission system improvements to better serve customers and deliver power from new resources.
• Testing and installing new technologies to improve efficiency and reliability while benefitting the environment. One example of this is the smart meter system we completed in 2010, which allowed us to reduce our meter-reading vehicle fleet, cutting 1.2 million miles of driving each year. As part of the Smart Grid, smart meters will also eventually give customers detailed information to help them save energy.
• Extending our distributed-generation network by tapping customers’ stand-by generators to meet peak demand.
• Offering renewable-power choices for homes and businesses, which help foster the development of more renewable resources.
• Encouraging new technologies for solar power, plug-in electric vehicles, biomass, wave energy and even carbon-eating algae (PDF).
• Analyzing and advocating for policies and legislation, at the state and federal levels, that benefit our customers and meet Oregon’s energy needs in an increasingly sustainable way. See our section on climate change advocacy.