COVID-19 has sent shock waves through our entire economy. Households across Oregon are facing economic hardship not seen in our lifetimes, with no clear end in sight either locally or on a global scale. Pre-existing social inequities have been exacerbated. And it’s become clear that the effects of this virus will last for years. But we have a historic opportunity to come out of this crisis with a more sustainable, robust, and equitable utility system.

Assuming changes we’ve seen in energy usage patterns are long-lasting, what can we do to assist and protect the customers who are hurting the most? How can we best meet statewide and local decarbonization goals while keeping bills affordable? What is needed to achieve the necessary mix of agility to respond to the pandemic’s unpredictable stressors, and the stability required for smart resource planning? What post-COVID-19 future do we want to see, and how do we get there? CUB looks forward to delving deep into these and other questions in our signature mix of expert panel discussions and keynote presentations.

The CUB Policy Conference is designed to educate energy and utility policy analysts, attorneys, advocates, regulators, and others working in and around the energy industry. CUB plans to apply for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for this event from the Bar Associations of Oregon and Washington.