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Council presses PBOT for nonresidential appeals process and multifamily low‑income discounts
Summary
PBOT outlined three models under consideration for delivering a low-income TUF discount to multifamily residents and described plans for a nonresidential appeals process and rate methodology to be presented in hearings next year; councilors demanded multiple options and protections against requiring tenants to disclose income to owners.
PBOT told the Public Works Committee it is developing an appeals process and proposing options to extend low-income discounts to multifamily residents, an issue several councilors said was critical to their support for the ordinance. Shoshanna Cohen described three approaches the bureau has researched: a discount pass-through to master-metered owners, another model explored with peer cities (discussed with Austin), and a direct-to-tenant rebate or credit model. PBOT staff said the direct-to-tenant rebate model currently appears the most promising in Portland’s utility environment.
"Tenants apply to receive a discount, and they're sent a rebate in a number of ways either via mail check, loaded debit or gift card, a digital app, or potentially another delivery model," Cohen said, noting operational and administrative trade-offs. Councilor Kunal and others pressed PBOT to present multiple vendor and methodology options in September, not to default to a single vendor or approach that could lock the council into a suboptimal design. Kunal warned he would not support returning legislation if only one implementation option was offered.
Nonresidential methodology: PBOT staff said the first-year measurement for commercial and other nonresidential properties will operate on a 2027 schedule and that staff will present a rate hearing for nonresidential methodology by Feb. 15, with code alignment and a final implementation timeline to follow. Staff are developing regional-average commercial rates to serve as the basis for appeals when a property's utility bill is disproportionate to its transportation impacts.
Next steps: PBOT will continue research, meet with business representatives and small-business stakeholders, and return with more refined recommendations in September.
