Related News

  • Related News

  • EWEB Education Programs Invest in Eugene’s Future

    Learn some of the many ways EWEB customers support local schools and help inspire kids to explore the wonders of watershed health and clean energy resources.

    Find Out More
  • EWEB supports apprentices through a training program

    Our skilled journeymen are experts in their field, with thousands of training hours and real-world experiences.

    Find Out More
  • May 2nd Board meeting report

    A wrap up of the May 2nd EWEB Board of Commissioners Meeting

    Find Out More
  • Bethel middle schoolers compete in a wind power challenge

    Seventh graders in the Bethel School District put their handmade wind turbines to the test in a wind power challenge supported by EWEB grants last week.

    Find Out More
  • Applications now being accepted for 2023 Electric Mobility Grant

    The application period is now open for the Electric Mobility Community Grants. Mobility Grants of up to $25,000 will be awared to five nonprofits, schools and academic intitutions, government and other public agencies to cover costs associated with their electric mobility projects.

    Find Out More
  • Show More
We're Holding Prices Steady Again in 2020

December 06, 2019

Two women examining bills

Eugene Water & Electric Board commissioners in early December unanimously approved a $329 million 2020 budget that includes no overall residential electric or water price increases.

2020 will mark the fifth time in the past six years with no residential electric price increase, and the third year in a row with no jump in residential water prices.

While water prices for EWEB customers will remain flat, our wholesale water customers such as the city of Veneta and the River Road and Santa Clara Water Districts will see a slight increase.

Holding prices steady is part of our ongoing Affordability Initiative to become more efficient, lower operating costs and reduce and restructure debt while still investing in capital projects that help improve reliability and emergency preparedness.

"Fostering customer confidence by maintaining sustainable spending levels will continue to be a primary focus for EWEB as is assessing the trend of how much of customers' median income is spent on utility bills," said Susan Fahey, chief financial officer and assistant general manager.

The "percentage of median income" metric is a good benchmark for measuring our progress on affordability. In 2017, for example, the monthly water and electric bill for the average residential customer was about 4.1 percent of the Eugene median household income. Through various cost-containment and efficiency strategies, that burden has been reduced to 3.7 percent. We will continue to look for ways to further ease the utility burden.

Our improved financial metrics haven't escaped the notice of the major credit rating services. Fitch Ratings in early November awarded EWEB's Electric System an "AA-," and Moody's Investor Service followed with an "Aa2" rating for the Water System.

These strong credit ratings will help reduce borrowing costs when we issue future bonds for capital investments like rebuilding the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project and our planned water system improvements over the next decade.

Lower borrowing costs will help us mitigate the impact of future electric and water price increases.