< back		 Jason Eisdorfer, Citizens Utility Board

Eisdorfer has served as legal counsel and energy program director of the Citizen’s Utility Board of Oregon since joining CUB in 1994. He has represented the residential consumer in numerous rate cases before the Oregon Public Utility Commission and in utility integrated resource planning processes.

Prior to joining CUB, Eisdorfer was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel, and served an appointment as a special assistant U.S. attorney. Eisdorfer is a graduate of the University of Chicago, and received his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.
1. What is the best thing about the recommendations? The Comprehensive Review process is an orderly attempt to try to set out the rules for a restructured electricity industry and to retain the benefits of the regional energy system for the region. At the national level there is an effort under foot to wrestle control and the benefits of the Bonneville system away from the Northwest. Diverse interests have come together to protect our regional energy sources. The Northwest Governors deserve credit for bringing these diverse interests together in a public process that relies on input from Northwest citizens.
2. What is the most challenging thing about the recommendations? The draft recommendations pay homage to existing institutions and to profit-making interests while slighting the true values of Northwest citizens. Publicly owned utilities get preferential access to federal system power, yet residential customers of investor owned utilities do not get preference on the same basis. And preference for the Direct Service Industries is maintained. Large industrial customers and investor-owned utilities get what they want in the deregulation recommendation and in transmission structure.

Those interests not focused on profit, the residential ratepayers, energy efficiency and renewables, and endangered salmon, did not secure equivalent substantive commitments. Residential consumers may in fact be at risk of higher rates in a deregulated electric industry, yet the draft does not provide a guarantee of stable or lower rates from the competitive market.

Even though energy efficiency and renewables programs are at risk in a competitive market and are valued by Northwestern residents, there is no guarantee of uniform funding for these purposes. And while customers of the federal system agree to pay more for salmon recovery programs, there is no commitment to reach stable and viable salmon runs. In sum, this draft focuses on short term profit not long term planning.
3. Why should people care about the recommendations? The issues addressed in the draft report affect the everyday life of every resident in the region. These recommendations will affect your pocket book, the air you breathe, the reliability of electricity in your home, how you buy electricity, and the continued survival of the regionally and culturally important Pacific Northwest salmon. The Northwest’s historical commitment to rate equity, energy efficiency, a clean environment, and preservation of native salmon runs is at serious risk.

Not all interest groups have the same ability to influence the process. Those who stand to make a profit from the changes have already weighed in. Therefore, if you believe that residential rates should be affordable, that energy efficiency is the economically and environmentally wise thing to do, and that native salmon runs need protection, then it is time to speak up. This process was designed to allow you to express your values. To the greatest extent possible, the Steering Committee will attempt to reflect those values in the final recommendation. Please let us know what you think.