Do you or someone you know need help paying your bills because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Your utility may be able to help!
Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Avista, Cascade Natural Gas, and Idaho Power have all announced debt relief plans for Oregon customers affected by COVID-19, including matching funds for payments, one-time grants, and extended payment plans. These programs may also be matched with energy assistance.
Programs vary by utility and are only available for a limited time. If you’re behind on your bills, find your utility below for details about their COVID-19 relief program. Contact your utility provider today!
Avista customers may enroll in the following programs:
Automatic Grant – Designed for customers with a history of low-income program eligibility, customers will automatically receive a one-time grant equal to the amount of their total past due balance up to $1,500.
Arrearage Forgiveness Grant – A one-time grant to forgive past due balances up to $1,000 for customers who have received energy assistance with the last 24 months.
For more information, call Avista at 800-227-9187 or click the logo above.
Cascade Natural Gas customers may enroll in the following programs:
Automatic Hardship Grant – Designed for customers with a history of low-income program eligibility, qualified customers will automatically receive a one-time grant equal to the amount of their total past due balance up to $1,500.
Financial Hardship Grant – Designed for customers who have not received energy assistance in the last 24 months but is experiencing hardship due to COVID-19. Cascade Natural will determine the qualified customer’s benefit amount based on household size, income, and account balance. The grant, not to exceed $1,500, will be applied to the customer’s past due balance.
For more information, call Cascade Natural at 888-522-1130 or click the logo above.
Idaho Power customers may enroll in one of the following programs:
40/60 Balance Split – A one-time grant for qualifying customers with larger past due balances who are able to make a lump sum payment of 40 percent of their balance. Idaho Power will then pay the remaining 60 percent of the balance up to $1,200.
Payment Arrangement Match – Relief to qualifying customers able to make payments over time. Idaho Power will match the payments up to a total of $1,200 or 12 months.
Instant Grant – A one-time credit/grant up to $250 to provide immediate debt relief to qualifying customers with smaller past due balances.
For more information, call Idaho Power at 800-388-6040 or click the logo above.
NW Natural customers may enroll in more than one of the following programs (up to $1,200):
Instant Grant – A one-time immediate grant up to $300 to provide immediate debt relief for qualified customers with smaller past due balances.
50/50 Matching Grant – A one-time matching grant to provide debt relief, up to $600, when their matching payment equal to 50 percent of the total account balance is received.
Time Payment Arrangement with Matching Grant – The customer enrolls in a time payment arrangement and receives a matching grant installment toward their past due balance each month their payment is received. The grant is equal to 50 percent of the total account balance, up to $1,200, divided equally by the number of payments required by the time payment arrangement.
For more information, call NW Natural at 800-422-4012 or click the logo above.
Pacific Power customers may enroll in one of the following programs:
Extended Payment Match – Qualifying customers who require long-term payment arrangements on past due balances will receive a monthly payment match up to $1,000 for 12 months, until the past due balance is paid in full, or the $1,000 maximum is met.
Instant Grant – A one-time grant up to $500 is offered to help customers pay off past due balances, reconnect service, or set up an extended payment plan.
For more information, call PacifiCorp at 888-221-7070 or click the logo above.
Portland General Electric customers may enroll in more than one of the following programs (up to $1,000):
50/50 Plan – A one-time PGE bill payment to match a customer payment of an equal value.
Three-Month Payment Match – PGE will match customer payments for up to three months or until the outstanding balance is $0.
Extended Match Program – PGE will match customer payments for up to 12 months if the customer enrolls in a Time Payment Arrangement Plan for up to 24 months.
Customer Assistance – A one-time bill payment by PGE up to $500 for qualifying customers to get their account current. This will cover any remaining balance for customers who received energy assistance through the Oregon Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Reconnect Assistance – Once the disconnection moratorium expires, PGE will match a customer’s payment to reconnect their disconnected service.
For more information, call Portland General Electric at 503-228-6322 or click the logo above.
For more information about these programs, please visit the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Billi is a member of OEF’s Board of Directors and works as an Administrative Services Manager at West Oregon Electric Co-op. Here’s why she loves Oregon Energy Fund: 
In March 2020, as the first US outbreaks of COVID-19 began, 
“
