Portland General Electric introduces temporary protections for income-qualified and medical certificate customers amid government shutdown

To support customers affected by the ongoing U.S. federal government shut down and delays in federal assistance programs, Portland General Electric is temporarily expanding protections for customers enrolled in its Income-Qualified Bill Discount and medical certificate programs. Through the end of the year, PGE will suspend service disconnections for Income-Qualified Bill Discount recipients and medical certificate customers.

“PGE understands that some customers are facing difficult decisions,” said Allison Rowden, PGE director of customer service. “We are here for our customers through bill assistance programs and options that can help with your specific situation. We’re just a phone call away.”

These temporary measures are in addition to PGE’s regular winter protections, which prohibit disconnections for all residential customers during times of extreme weather. Together, these measures help ensure customers maintain access to safe, reliable service during this period of uncertainty. Approximately 19,000 households throughout PGE’s service area have lost access to Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program is not affected by the government shutdown, and customers enrolled in the program will continue to receive their bill discounts. Residential customers not currently enrolled with a household income at or below 60% of Oregon’s median family income may be eligible to enroll in the program. The exact size of the discount percentage will vary based on household size and income level.

To enroll, eligible customers can sign up

• Online at portlandgeneral.com/iqbd

• Call PGE’s Customer Service at 503-228-6322, where teams are ready to assist in more than 200 languages.

The Income Qualified Discount Program is just one way that PGE works closely with customers who are struggling to pay their bills. PGE can also help by setting up a payment plan, extending payment due dates, or helping connect customers with community resources. Visit Oregon Energy Assistance Programs, LIHEAP & More | PGE for more information.

About Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news