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Citizens Utility Board

EIN 93-0921617 · Portland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS DIRECTED BY OREGON VOTERS IN 1984, THE OREGON CITIZENS' UTILITY BOARD (CUB) REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF OREGON'S RESIDENTIAL UTILITY CUSTOMERS BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE, JUDICIAL, AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES. CUB WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF UTILITY POLICY AND REGULATION TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, EMPOWER CONSUMERS, AND ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AROUND UTILITY ISSUES THAT AFFECT OREGONIANS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
11
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$159,462, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $997,103 spent. CUB ESTIMATES IT SAVED CUSTOMERS MORE THAN $650 MILLION IN 2024. CUB PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS PROCEEDINGS BEFORE REGULATORS, CHALLENGING UTILITIES ON THE TRUE COST OF DATA CENTERS ON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR DATA CENTERS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. ADDITIONALLY, CUB PRESSURED UTILITIES AND REGULATORS TO IMPROVE ON WILDFIRE PLANNING, AND TIGHTEN THE REQUIREMENTS ON COMPANIES TO CENTER CUSTOMERS IN THE PROCESS. IN THE SUMMER, WE HELPED SECURE EMERGENCY PROTECTIONS AGAINST SHUT OFFS FOR RESIDENTS ENROLLED IN BILL DISCOUNT PROGRAMS WITH PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC AND PACIFIC POWER. SUPPORT WAS ALSO GIVEN TO FOUR CONSUMER PROTECTION BILLS THAT WERE PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. MOST NOTABLY SB 1530, A BILL INTENDED TO SECURE OVER $20 MILLION FOR SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HEAT PUMP PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.