At its October 6 meeting, the Eugene Water and Electric Board's Commissioners reviewed draft 2027 electric and water budgets, along with updated 10-year financial plans for both utilities, and financing strategy options for construction of a new drinking water treatment plant.
The draft 2027 budget totals $502 million, including $388 million for the Electric Utility and $114 million for the Water Utility — funding that will help keep safe, reliable power and water flowing to Eugene homes and businesses, the Oregon public power utility noted.
This includes continued work toward the Willamette Treatment Plant, a new water treatment facility that will give Eugene a second source of drinking water.
The draft electric revenue requirement for 2027 reflects a 3.5% increase, while the draft water revenue requirement reflects a 15% increase. The revenue requirement is the amount EWEB needs to collect from customers to fund major infrastructure projects, day-to-day operations, and system upkeep.
During the public meeting, Deborah Hart, EWEB's Assistant General Manager and Chief Financial Officer, outlined several competing cost pressures facing the utility, including growing capital needs, rising costs driven by economic factors outside EWEB's control, diminishing federal funding, and growing affordability pressures for customers.
"We understand that electric and water rates are top of mind for our elected Board and our community, and that every dollar we spend running the utility shows up on customer bills," Hart said.
Due to sustained cost pressures the Electric and Water 10-year plans currently include deferring about $100 million in large infrastructure projects, spreading out or delaying work where it’s safe to do so to soften the impact on customer rates.
"Beyond deferrals, staff continue to sharpen the pencils across operations, identifying cost savings and efficiencies to help keep rates as low as possible," Hart said.
Board direction from the October meeting will guide development of the final 2027 budget and rate proposals. Those proposals will come back to the Board for review in November and final adoption anticipated at the Board's December meeting. Community members can share feedback on the proposed budgets and rates at those meetings or by contacting their elected Commissioners.
