Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is praising a major boost in energy assistance funding after lawmakers approved House Bill 3792, doubling support for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) from $20 million to $40 million. Governor Tina Kotek signed the measure, along with several other energy affordability bills, into law this week.
“The biggest issue on people’s minds is the affordability of everyday life,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “These programs may not have broad name recognition, but they make a real difference in helping families stay stable.”
OEAP, launched in 1999, provides energy bill assistance to qualifying Portland General Electric and Pacific Power customers based on income and household size. The program has helped more than 85,000 households, preventing 92% of participants from losing service.
The expansion comes as federal leaders weigh cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which supports thousands of Oregon families. From October 2023 through September 2024, more than 59,000 households received LIHEAP funds.
For families like Don’s, the assistance is life-changing. After a head injury left the longtime welder and father of six unable to work, an $1,100 electric bill nearly pushed him into crisis. With help from a local community action agency, Don avoided a shutoff. “They were like, ‘We’ll get you hooked up and see what we can do.’ And they did. More than once,” he said.
OHCS says local partners are facing growing demand with limited resources, and without sustained investment, vulnerable households could face utility shutoffs.
For more information on OHCS programs, visit oregon.gov/ohcs.
