OREGON RATEPAYER FUNDED PROGRAMS

CURRENT PROGRAMS
Rate Assistance
  • Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP)
    Funds are expended solely for low-income electric bills in the service area of the electric company from which the funds are collected. Income eligibility is the same as LIHEAP (60% state median income).
  • Oregon Low-Income Gas Assistance (OLGA)
    Bill payment assistance to supplement LIHEAP. Income eligibility is the same as LIHEAP.
  • Low-Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP)
    Provides energy assistance grants for gas bills. Income eligibility is the same as LIHEAP.
  • Oregon Low Income Bill Assistance (OLIBA)
    Provides bill payment assistance
Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Conservation Helping Oregonians (ECHO)
    Low-income households that use electricity as their primary heat source can receive weatherization measures such as insulation, energy-related minor home repairs, air infiltration reduction, furnace repair and replacement, heating duct improvements and energy conservation education. Other households may receive education and baseload measures. Income eligibility is the same as WAP (200% federal poverty guidelines)
  • Multi-Family Rental Housing
    Grants for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.
  • Low-Income Housing Development Projects
    Construction of new housing or rehabilitation of existing housing for low-income families (50% state median income).
  • Oregon Low Income Energy Efficiency (OLIEE)
    Energy efficiency measures; Income eligibility is the same as LIHEAP
Participating Utilities
  • Rate Assistance
    • OEAP: PGE and PacifiCorp
    • OLGA: NW Natural
    • LIRAP: Avista
    • OLIBA: Cascade Natural Gas
  • Energy Efficiency
    • ECHO: PGE and PacifiCorp
    • OLIEE: NW Natural Gas
Annual Funding
(2016)
  • Rate Assistance
    • OEAP: $19.24 million
    • OLGA: $2.47 million
    • LIRAP: $219,258
    • OLIBA: $43,652
    • Public Utility Districts and Municipal Utilities: $3 million annually
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Public Purpose Charge: (Jan 2014 – Dec 2016): $35 million
    • OLIEE: $1,464,903
Households Served (2016)
  • Rate Assistance
    • OEAP: 40,553
    • OLGA: 7,559
    • LIRAP: 708
    • OLIBA: 194
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Public Purpose Charge (Jan 2013 – Dec 2014)
      • ECHO: 2,110
      • Multi-Family Rental Housing: NA
      • Low-Income Housing Development: NA
    • OLIEE: 260
Funding Mechanism
  • Rate Assistance
    • OEAP: Funding for OEAP comes from fees added to customers’ utility bills. The rate is approximately $0.84 per meter for residential customers and not more than $500.00 for commercial/industrial customers. (2016)
    • OLGA: 0.75 percent charge to residential customers' total energy bills
  • Energy Efficiency
    • ECHO, Multi-Family Rental Housing and Low-Income Housing Development Projects: Public Purpose Charge equal to three percent of the total revenues collected by participating electric utilities
    • OLIEE: 0.25 percent of gross revenues received from residential and commercial customers
Administration
  • Rate Assistance
    • OEAP: PGE and PacifiCorp
    • LIRAP: Avista
    • OLGA: NW Natural
    • Cascade
  • Energy Efficiency
    • ECHO, Multi-Family Rental Housing and Low-Income Housing Development Projects: Oregon Housing and Community Services
    • OLIEE: NW Natural
LEGISLATION
Authorizing
REPORTS / EVALUATIONS

Report to Legislative Assembly on Public Purpose Expenditures, January 2013 - December 2014, Final 2-Year Report, March 25 2015, Evergreen Economics

OLGA Annual Report, NW Natural Gas, 2013-2014

OLIEE Annual Report, NW Natural Gas, 2013-2014

Low-Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP), Annual Summary Report, Avista, October 2013 through September, 2014

Low Income Bill Assistance Program Annual Report, Cascade Natural Gas, October 2013 - September 2014

Oregon Energy Assistance Program, Report to the 78th Legislative Assembly, Oregon Housing & Community Services, December 31, 2014