Energy Trust 2018 budgeting underway; draft budget available for public comment in November


As a nonprofit organization investing utility customer funds, Energy Trust conducts an open annual budgeting process each fall. We began planning and developing the 2018 budget in August. A draft budget will be posted on our website on November 1. Public, trade and program ally feedback is welcome on the draft 2018 budget and 2018-2019 action plan from November 1 – 17, 2017.

The 2018 budget will guide the program and outreach strategies that help Oregon and southwest Washington utility customers save energy and generate renewable power. The budget and action plan are developed collaboratively with Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista to deliver least-cost energy efficiency included in their long-term resource plans. In addition, the budget supports development of small-scale generation from a variety of renewable energy resources in PGE and Pacific Power territories. Projects and actions resulting from our plans will save money on participant utility bills, reduce carbon emissions and improve local economies.

Check our budget and action plan web page; the draft budget will be posted November 1 along with instructions on how to submit feedback.

In addition to public feedback, we adjust the draft budget based on input from our board of directors, the Oregon Public Utility Commission, partner utilities and our two advisory councils. A final proposed budget is posted online in early December and considered by our board at its mid-December meeting. The board-approved, final budget is posted online and submitted to the OPUC by year-end.