Happy New Year from all of us at EWEB! In 2023 we celebrated 112 years of community ownership and a core mission of delivering safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible power and water to Eugene homes and businesses.  

2023 was a year of substantial progress on EWEB’s key priorities of improving resiliency and preparing to meet our community’s future energy and water needs.  

Here are some highlights of last year:  

• Keeping the lights on 99.97% of the time  

• Protecting our drinking water from source to tap  

• Planning for a clean, reliable energy future  

• Helping customers reduce energy use and save money  

But what’s next for 2024? Read on to find out! 

In January of last year, EWEB Commissioners voted unanimously to decommission the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project, 20 miles east of Eugene. What are the reasons they cited for permanently ceasing hydropower generation? 

A: The costs to repair the facility to modern safety standards would be more expensive than purchasing energy elsewhere. 

B: Decommissioning the facility will lower EWEB’s liability to future risks, such as floods, unpredictable water years, and changing regulations. 

C: Removing Leaburg Dam will have long-term environmental benefits for the health of the McKenzie River, the source of our drinking water. 

D: All of the above. 

At the Dec. 5 public meeting, EWEB Commissioners approved a 2024 budget that includes rate changes due to increased costs of providing electricity and water services. For the average residential customer, here is the bill impact: 

ELECTRIC INCREASE 
Basic charge: $1.50 per month
Usage charge: Less than 1¢ per kilowatt hour 

WATER INCREASE 
Basic charge: $1.85 per month* 
Usage charge: Approximately 14¢ per kgal* 

*Inside City limits based on 9 kgal average usage. Excludes wholesale customers & elevation pumping fees. 

Beginning in February 2024, the average household will pay around $14 more per month, or 48 cents per day, for electricity and water combined. This is based on using 9,000 gallons of water and 1,600 kWh of electricity; actual bill changes may be lower or higher depending on actual usage.  

To understand how new prices will affect your EWEB bill, check out your January "Water Power People" bill newsletter here (PDF) and visit our website to download a calculator that you can use to estimate changes to your 2024 electric bill. 

Start the New Year right with our energy saving tips to save money and reduce your carbon footprint!

We know that saving money is important to our customers. Using energy and water wisely is a great way to reduce your monthly utility bill, even as the costs of electricity and water rise. EWEB has several steps you can take to reduce your usage and even make your home feel more comfortable. 
Learn more.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board is owned by our customers, who elect a five-member Board of Commissioners. At the Jan. 9 public meeting, the agenda includes:   

• Election of Officers and Board Liaison Assignments for 2024 

• Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan 

• Proposed 2024 Strategic Goals/Organizational Performance Measures 

You can view the full agenda for the January 9 meeting here. You can also learn how to watch online, attend in-person and provide public comments.

It is no secret that we live in a city that is beautiful, green, and abundant in opportunities to get out and explore nature. But we also live on a planet that is suffering from extreme weather events and other effects of polluting greenhouse gas emissions. 

Individual changes like reducing energy use or switching to low-carbon transportation options can make a big difference. In addition, you can take steps to neutralize your remaining carbon footprint, such as signing up for EWEB’s Carbon Offsets for as little as $1.25 a month. Use one of our carbon footprint calculators to get started! 

The easiest way to save on your utility bill is to cut back on your electricity use. If you have cracks or gaps around doors and windows, you could be letting your nice warm air out into the world, which is a waste of energy and your hard-earned money. By weatherizing your house, apartment, or business, you are keeping the air right where you want it, inside (or outside). 

EWEB offers rebates and loans on windows and insulation improvements for residential and business customers. However, the simplest thing you can do is to just pick up a tube of caulk from the local hardware store and seal around any windows you feel a draft. Check door seals and replace any weather strips that are allowing air to flow. The U.S. Department of Energy has many tips on how to properly air-seal your home

Winter isn’t over yet and it’s important to be ready for the chance of a January or February winter storm that can lead to untimely side effects such as extended power outages from wind, snow and ice. 

Check out EWEB’s Power Outage Resources to help you prepare and stay safe. 

Each month, we will share a new step-by-step blueprint of recommendations to help prepare your family for an emergency. By the end of the year, you'll be able to survive on your own for two weeks. And you might win some prizes along the way! 

Join the 2024 Pledge to Prepare by January 14th and be entered to win an emergency road kit and a $25.00 gift card to Jerry’s Home Improvement Center for building your emergency kit! 

Join Pledge to Prepare 

A healthy workplace, competitive pay and comprehensive benefits make EWEB a great place to work. We're looking for talented people to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to our team.  

Featured job posting: Cybersecurity Supervisor 

This position is responsible for overseeing a team of technology professionals and cybersecurity experts who ensure the safety and reliability of our community's electric and water systems. 

Check out this and other job openings. 

Go behind the scenes for a tour of the Currin Substation rebuild with EWEB Engineer Philip Peterson.  

To learn more about EWEB’s electric reliability projects, visit eweb.org/electricreliability 

EWEB in the media

Deep dives for fellow utility nerds :-)

The Next Front in Climate Activism Is De-Privatizing Utilities 
EWEB is publicly owned, meaning that you, the customer, own all the assets and elect Commissioners who govern the utility and set its direction. Most people around the U.S. aren’t so lucky. They’re served by investor-owned utilities, which extract profit from providing the essential service of electricity. But more and more communities are seeking to take back their electricity service and become publicly owned utilities, like EWEB. 
Read more at Heatmap News. 

Pacific Northwest could experience ‘energy droughts,’ study finds 
What happens when the sun sets and the wind stops blowing? An energy drought. Thankfully, in the Pacific Northwest, we can rely on hydropower to step up and fill the gap. A new study forecasts the future frequency of energy droughts across the U.S. and offers some solutions. 
Read more at OPB. 

Heat-pump water heaters are a winner for the climate — and your wallet 
Many people know about ducted and ductless heat pumps to keep your home warm in the winter (and cool in the summer), and the savings EWEB offers for this emissions- and bill-reducing technology. But heat pump hot water heaters are the unsung hero of energy efficiency. The most efficient models use up to 85% less energy than typical electric resistance or gas models. And with EWEB rebates, you can save up to $1,200 on a new heat pump hot water heater! 
Read more at Canary Media.

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