Sept. 17, 2009

  Portland, Ore. – Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) reminds its customers the deadline to apply for the Trojan customer refund is fast approaching.  The Oregon Public Utility Commission has revised the amount that customers should have paid for the Trojan power plant, so PGE is refunding the difference of $33.1 million.

Eligible customers can apply via telephone by calling 888-288-1224 until 6 p.m. Pacific Time, Friday Sept. 18.  Customers also have the option to apply online at PortlandGeneral.com/Refund or by mail to Portland General Electric, Trojan Customer Refund Administrator, P.O. Box 4349, Portland, OR 97208-4349 (postmarked) before midnight Saturday, Sept. 19.

The refund amount is based on the type of customer (residential or business), how much electricity was used by that customer, and the number of refund applicants. The average refund expected for residential customers is estimated at approximately $23.

In May 2009, PGE sent a letter to individuals and businesses that were identified as customers between Oct. 1, 2000 and Sept. 30, 2001 notifying them they were eligible for a refund with an application form.  As part of a massive outreach effort, PGE also ran advertisements in 15 of Oregon’s largest newspapers; opened a toll-free hotline; ran notifications in both business and residential customer newsletters; posted information and an online application on PortlandGeneral.com; and included a special message on customers’ August 2009 bill.

With OPUC approval, PGE decided to shut down the Trojan plant in 1993 after a least-cost planning analysis determined that the cost to customers of closing the plant and recovering the utility’s investment would be less than the cost of continued operation of the plant for the remainder of its planned lifespan.