Issue #249, October 2025

Celebrate Public Power Week with Us

Public Power Week is October 5-11, and we want to celebrate with you!

Please join us for our annual Customer Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion.

Tickets are free for Columbia River PUD customers and are limited to 500. You can pick up your ticket at our office in Deer Island.

We will draw the winning ticket for our GLOW Quilt Raffle drawing at the dinner. You don’t need to be present to win. The quilt was donated by the Columbia River Piecemakers Quilt Guild, with all funds benefiting our GLOW Fund for income-qualified customers facing emergency disconnect.

Public Power Week is an annual celebration of safe, reliable, and affordable electric service provided by not-for profit electric utilities like us throughout the country. Since 1984, we have saved Columbia County residents $194 million on their electric rates compared with the previous investor-owned utility.

Know What to Do During a Power Outage

If your power goes out, there are a few things you can do to stay more comfortable and help us restore power safely and quickly.

1. Call us at (503) 397-1844 to report the outage.
2. Turn on a front porch light switch to help our crews know when power has been restored.
3. Turn on a lamp inside your home so you will know when power is restored.
4. If you have a generator, operate it safely.

How to Use Your Standby Generator Safely

If you have a standby generator, do not use it without a properly installed transfer switch. During an outage, electricity from your generator could back-feed power lines, causing a dangerous situation for our linemen while they're working to make repairs.

We have GenerLink transfer switches available for customers.

Get Ready for Winter Weather

We have entered fall, which means cold weather isn't far away. Here are some tips to help maximize your home's energy savings before winter arrives:

• Use a programmable or smart thermostat to turn down the heat a few degrees when you're away.
• Check your home's insulation, especially in the attic. We recommend at least 12 inches of attic insulation.
• Service your heating system annually, making sure to clean or replace your furnace filter regularly.

Find additional tips on our website.

Learn About Our Payment Assistance Programs

We have several programs in place to assist customers with their electric bills:

Our GLOW Fund provides emergency bill payment assistance to income-qualified customers.

The Special Waiver program provides a $20 discount on the monthly Base Charge for income-qualified customers.

The Income-Qualified Senior Discount provides a $20 discount on the monthly Base Charge as well as a 10% discount on the Energy Charges for income-qualified seniors.

Our Salute to Service Deposit Waiver is for U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel.

With the Care Program, you can make a gift payment on someone's account.

Identify Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

If your home uses electric heat, you are eligible for a free home energy evaluation. This quick, simple process will help you identify ways to cut your energy costs.

These are especially useful for older homes.

The evaluations are typically done over the phone and last about 30 minutes. Request one for your home today.