Issue #239, December 2024

Help Prepare Your Family for Winter Storm Season

As winter approaches, so do the challenges of severe weather conditions that can lead to power outages.

Winter storms can bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds that may disrupt our electrical distribution system.

Here are some valuable tips that can help you stay safe and comfortable this winter.

Stay Away from Downed Power Lines

Always stay away from downed power lines. If you see a fallen power line, please call us immediately at (503) 397-1844. If it is a medical or life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

Treat all downed lines as though they are energized. Do not touch anything that is touching a downed power line. Stay at least 200 feet away from a downed power line.

Happy Holidays from Your PUD

The staff and Board Members at Columbia River PUD wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Our office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, for Christmas, and on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year's Day.

We will have crews on standby throughout the holiday season. If your power goes out, please call us at (503) 397-1844 to report the outage.

Give the Gift of Light and Warmth this Season

You can help families in need during the cold weather this winter by donating to our GLOW Fund.

GLOW provides emergency bill payment assistance to income-qualified families. The need for assistance can be greater during the winter, when electric bills can be higher.

You can make recurring donations by rounding up on your bill or a one-time donation by calling us at (503) 397-1844. Learn about more ways you can donate at crpud.net/glow.

Heat Pump Water Heaters Can Lower Your Bill

Electric water heaters typically account for about 20% of the energy used by an average home.

That's more than a refrigerator, dishwasher, and washer and dryer combined.

Heat pump water heaters can lower that amount. They are at least twice as efficient as standard water heaters.

We have rebates available for qualifying installations.

Free Ways to Cut Heating Waste

Cold weather forces your heating system to work harder, even if you don't adjust the temperature inside your home. Here are a few suggestions that can help you keep your bills lower this winter:

• Clean your air filter.
• Open blinds and shades on windows facing the sun.
• Keep decorations, furniture, and other items from blocking your heat registers.

You can find more tips on our website.

PUD Pays Property Taxes

We paid $791,187 to Columbia and Multnomah Counties for the 2024-25 tax year. Those taxes will be divided as follows:

• Schools – $399,349
• Fire Districts – $168,586
• County – $83,132
• Cities – $37,613
• 9-1-1 Comm – $14,629
• Other – $87,878

Columbia County received $781,476; the remaining $9,711 was paid to Multnomah County.

The majority of our service territory is in Columbia County. We serve about 350 customers in northern Multnomah County, near Scappoose.

We are among the largest property tax payers in Columbia County.