Portland General Electric Blocks Service Disconnections for Thousands Affected by Federal Shutdown

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland General Electric (PGE) announced yesterday that it will temporarily expand holds on service disconnections for Income-Qualified Bill Discount recipients and medical certificate customers to help customers affected by the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown and delays in federal assistance programs.

Portland General Electric Announces Temporary Protection On Electric Bills

PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount and medical certificate programs will be temporarily expanded in addition to PGE’s regular winter protections,  which prohibit disconnections for all residential customers during times of extreme weather.

These measures are designed to help ensure customers maintain access to safe, reliable service during this period of uncertainty.

About 19,000 households throughout PGE’s service area have lost access to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), but PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program is not affected by the government shutdown. These customers will continue to receive their bill discounts.

Residential customers with household income at or below 60% of Oregon’s median family income may be eligible to enroll in the program, but the exact discount percentage will vary by household size and income level.

To enroll in PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program, eligible customers can sign up:

• Online at portlandgeneral.com/iqbd
• Call PGE’s Customer Service at 503-228-6322, where teams speak over 200 languages.

For help with a PGE bill, the utility company can also set up a payment plan, extend payment due dates, or help connect customers with community resources such as Oregon Energy Assistance Programs, LIHEAP, and More.

Allison Rowden, PGE director of customer service, confirmed that PGE’s bill assistance programs and options are there to help with specific situations and invited customers to call.