Hero

Copy

WONKY

  • What is a Renewable Energy Certificate?

    A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is created every time one megawatt-hour of renewable energy is generated and added to the electric grid, and it represents the environmental benefits of this energy. Learn more about how RECs work in this video from the Center for Resource Solutions.

  • Where does my money go?

    Your Green Future participation supports:

    • Renewable energy: PGE purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on your behalf from facilities in Oregon and other Western states. The amount of RECs that PGE purchases depends on the participation level you select.
    • Community grants: Green Future participants support the Green Future Renewable Development Fund, which provides grants to local organizations to build renewable energy projects.
    • Outreach, education, and administration: Your participation enables us to keep offering this option to Oregonians throughout the state.

    PGE does not make a profit from the Green Future program. For participants who add Habitat Support to their enrollment, $2.50 per month goes directly to The Nature Conservancy to restore local fish habitat.

    Learn more about the impact that Green Future participants are making.

  • How much does it cost?

    The cost depends on the option you choose, and the price starts at $1.88 per month. The most popular option is to go 100% renewable, which would cost about $5 more per month on average for the typical residential customer who uses 784 kilowatt-hours per month. When you choose this option, Green Future Choice matches 73% of your electricity use and the other 27% comes from PGE’s renewable commitment. You also have the option to match a portion of your energy use for a fixed monthly price. Use our tool to find the option that’s right for you.

  • If I enroll in Green Future, is renewable energy directly coming to my home?

    No, renewable energy is not coming directly to your home. Once any type of energy is produced and added to the electric grid, it’s not possible to tell what source it came from. But, when you participate in Green Future, PGE purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on your behalf. These RECs represent the environmental benefit of one megawatt-hour of renewable energy being delivered to the electric grid. Adding more renewable energy to the grid reduces the need for non-renewable types of energy, which means your participation makes a positive difference for the environment.

  • How does Green Future work?

    Green Future makes it easy to match your home’s electricity use with renewable resources like wind and solar. You choose the level that’s right for you, and PGE purchases renewable energy sourced from Oregon and other Western states on your behalf. The cost is added to your monthly bill, so there are no separate payment statements. Your participation reduces your environmental impact and supports renewable energy projects right here in our local communities through the Green Future Renewable Development Fund!

  • When do these changes go into effect?

    These changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

  • What will my new Green Future Choice monthly cost be?

    The average participant will see their average cost go down by about $2 – $3 per month.* The exact amount will depend on your actual electricity use. The price per kilowatt-hour will remain the same at $0.0094, but you’ll be paying for fewer kilowatt-hours each month. Here’s how it will work:

    PGE’s Renewable Commitment in 2025 Percentage of electricity matched with renewable energy through Green Future Before:

    Green Future Choice Avg. Monthly Cost

    		 After:

    Green Future Choice Avg. Monthly Cost
    Average Residential Customer* At least 27% 73% $7.47 $5.46
    Average Small Business Customer* At least 27% 73% $12.69 $9.26

    *Based on the average residential electricity use of 795 kilowatt-hours per month and average small business electricity use of 1,350 kilowatt-hours per month.

  • Why is the average monthly cost of Green Future Choice going down?

    In 2025, PGE will provide at least 27% renewable energy from sources like hydropower, wind, and solar. Therefore, Green Future Choice participants will only pay to match the difference (73%) of their electricity use with renewable energy in order to total 100%. The price per-kilowatt hour of Green Future Choice is not changing – but you’ll be paying for fewer kilowatt-hours each month. The average cost to participate will decrease by about $2-$3 per month.*

    PGE is required by the State of Oregon to increase the percentage of certain types of renewable energy used to serve customers under Oregon’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). As this percentage increases (35% in 2030, 45% in 2035, 50% in 2040), Green Future Choice will continue to automatically adjust to match the difference so the total renewable percentage will remain 100%.

    *Based on the average residential electricity use of 795 kilowatt-hours per month and average small business electricity use of 1,350 kilowatt-hours per month.

  • Will I continue to support 100% renewable energy with Green Future Choice?

    Yes! Green Future Choice participants will continue to support renewable energy equal to 100% of their electricity use. In 2025, only 73% will come from Green Future Choice and 27% will come from PGE.

  • What is the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)?

    RPS is a statewide policy requiring utilities to provide customers a specified percentage of electricity from certain types of renewable energy sources. Oregon’s RPS requires that 50% of the electricity Oregonians use come from renewable sources by 2040. Oregon utilities like PGE are also required to meet interim benchmarks to ensure they are on track to hit the 2040 goal.

  • Is there a difference between the renewable resources supported by Green Future and the qualifying renewable resources allowed under Oregon’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)?

    Yes, there are some differences. Green Future only purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) from newer renewable energy facilities that have come online in the last 15 years. Additionally, only hydropower facilities certified by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute are eligible to be supported by Green Future.

    By comparison, the qualifying renewable resources for the RPS can include facilities that are older than 15 years, as well as electricity generation from large hydropower facilities that are not certified as low-impact as long as the generation is attributable to efficiency upgrades made after 1995.

  • What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)?

    A REC is created every time one megawatt-hour of renewable energy is generated and added to the electric grid, and it represents the environmental benefits of this energy. Learn more about how RECs work in this video from the Center for Resource Solutions.

    Because electrons cannot be tracked, RECs are used to verify claims around using or supporting renewable energy, like the claims made with Green Power programs. A REC contains information about what facility generated the renewable energy, when it was generated (month and year), and what kind of resource generated the energy (solar, wind, geothermal, etc). RECs can be bought, sold, and traded. However, when a REC is used to support claims in a program, it is retired and can no longer transfer ownership or be used again. Green Future Choice and Block retire RECs equal to what participants purchase each year that match the exact percentage and geography reported to customers.

  • Why will Green Future no longer be Green-eⓇ Energy certified?

    For the last 9 years, PGE’s Green Future program has been certified by a third-party verifier called the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a nonprofit organization that creates standards for voluntary renewable energy programs. CRS recently updated their Green-eⓇ Standard in response to new regulations and rules adopted by the State of Oregon, and this update affects the certification status of the Green Future Choice and Block program.

    The update states that Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) associated with renewable energy facilities that deliver electricity to Oregon customers are no longer eligible for Green-eⓇ Energy certification. To maintain certification in 2025, Green Future Choice and Block would need to begin sourcing RECs from less local renewable energy facilities located outside of the Western grid, such as facilities in Texas or on the East Coast.

    In a 2023 survey, more than 98% of residential program participants who responded to the survey did not feel strongly about retaining Green-eⓇ Energy certification. Therefore, because of the Green-eⓇ rule change and the lack of strong preference from participants, we’ve decided to move away from certification in 2025 to be able to continue providing more local RECs from Oregon and the Western region – a priority for many Green Future customers. Green Future Choice and Block will continue to be overseen by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and audited annually by a different third-party to verify the renewable energy purchased on your behalf.

    The State of Oregon and CRS will continue to explore solutions that will make it possible for programs like Green Future Choice and Block to be recertified in the future, while continuing to purchase RECs from the Western region.

    We want to hear more about your priorities and preferences for Green Future. Keep your eye out for a survey invitation in 2025 to help us better understand how you think about regional supply, program cost, and certification status. If you have any feedback to share now, feel free to let us know here.

  • If Green Future Choice and Block is no longer Green-eⓇ Energy certified, how is the renewable energy being verified?

    Green Future Choice and Block will continue to be overseen by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and audited annually by a different third-party to verify the renewable energy purchased on your behalf. Your money will continue to go toward matching your electricity use with renewable energy, supporting local renewable energy projects through the Renewable Development Fund and administering the program.

  • I participate in Green Future Choice. Do I need to take any action?

    You do not need to do anything to continue to support 100% renewable energy.  The new structure will automatically be applied to your account. You will begin to see a lower monthly Green Future charge on your January 2025 bill.

  • What if I want to support more renewable energy than what I can now purchase through Green Future Choice?

    Amazing! If you want to go above and beyond your own monthly electricity usage, you can purchase additional “blocks” of renewable energy in 200 kilowatt-hour increments through Green Future Block. Each block costs a fixed monthly fee of $1.88 and you can purchase as many blocks as you like.

  • Is the monthly cost of Green Future Block changing?

    No, there won’t be any change to the monthly cost of Green Future Block. As always, you can choose to increase or decrease the number of blocks you purchase at any time to meet your needs.

  • How do I change or cancel my participation?

    You can change or cancel your Green Future participation at any time with no penalty by logging into your PGE account online or calling PGE Customer Service at 503-228-6322.

  • How is the renewable energy purchased through Green Future being verified?

    Green Future Choice and Block are overseen by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and audited annually by a third-party to verify the renewable energy purchased on your behalf.