SETTLING IN
Utility Choice
Because consumers often have a choice of utility suppliers, taking the time to research rate comparisons may save dollars. The following list of suppliers includes only the major companies that serve the state. For specific providers within your community or area, contact your municipal clerk — or the county clerk for unincorporated areas.
Energy Price Shopping
https://www.energyshop.com
Comparative costs for both gas and electric utility suppliers
Oregon Public Utility Commission
https://www.oregon.gov/puc/Pages/default.aspx
Management of public utilities in Oregon
Washington Utilities
& Transportation Commission
https://www.utc.wa.gov/
Washington State utilities management and consumer information
United States Postal Service
Mover’s Guide
https://www.usps.com
MAJOR UTILITY PROVIDERS
Electricity
Portland General Electric (PGE)
503-228-6322
800-542-8818
https://portlandgeneral.com/
Pacific Power
888-221-7070
Power Outage Hotline
877-LITESOUT
https://www.pacificpower.net
Clark County Public Utilities
Vancouver, WA
360-992-3000
Power Outage Hotline
360-992-8000
https://www.clarkpublicutilities.com
Natural Gas
Northwest Natural
800-422-4012
Conversion to Gas
800-927-6123
Call Before You Dig
800-332-2344 (Oregon)
800-424-5555 (Washington State)
https://www.nwnatural.com
Water and waste removal
The providers of water and sewer service as well as waste management vary with the community and the region. The following resources will be helpful to new residents in the city of Portland as well as those in Clark County and/or Vancouver, Washington. For other areas, contact the municipal or county government for details on providers.
City of Portland Water Bureau
Customer Service
503-823-7770
Emergency Line
503-823-4874
https://www.portland.gov/water
City of Vancouver Utilities Division
Customer Service
360-696-8152
https://www.cityofvancouver.us
Clark County Public Utilities
Vancouver, WA
360-992-3000
https://www.clarkpublicutilities.com
Waste Removal
Mid-Valley Garbage & Recycling Association
503-363-8890
https://mrtrashrecycles.com/
Waste Management Northwest
Metropolitan Portland
800-592-9995
https://www.wmnorthwest.com
Waste Connections
Vancouver, WA (East)
916-608-8200
https://www.wasteconnections.com
Waste Connections
Washington State, Vancouver West
360-892-5370
https://www.wasteconnections.com/
Recycling Information
Metro Recycling Program
503-797-1700
503-797-1804 TDD
https://www.oregonmetro.gov/
City of Portland, OR
503-823-7700
https://www.portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling
Clackamas County
503-557-6363
https://www.clackamas.us/recycling
Washington County
503-846-8609
https://www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/SWR
Yamhill County
503-472-9371
https://www.co.yamhill.or.us
City of Vancouver, WA
360-487-8000
https://www.cityofvancouver.us
Clark County, WA
360-397-2121
https://clark.wa.gov/recycle
Telephone Service
CenturyTel
800-366-8201
https://www.centurylink.com
Serving the Yacolt area
Verizon
800-256-4646
https://www.verizon.com
Serving the communities of Yacolt, Camas, Washougal, and Woodland
TDS Telecom
866-571-6662
https://tdstelecom.com/
Serving the communities of Amboy, Yale, Cougar, and La Center
Cable Television
Clear Creek Communications
503-631-2101
https://www.ccmtc.com
Serving Oregon City
DirectTV
844-201-0483
https://www.usdirect.com
Dish
855-399-1782
https://www.usdish.com
Frontier
844-783-9383
https://go.frontier.com
Spectrum
888-438-2427
https://www.spectrum.com
Serving Vancouver’s outlying areas
Xfinity
800-685-move
https://www.xfinity.com/
Regional Resources
Local Area “Tool Libraries”
Tool libraries are just like traditional libraries, but with tools instead of books. They are great for people who can’t/don’t want to buy/rent tools they are only going to use once in a while. They usually require some form of free membership which before being allowed to borrow residents must fill out and sign an application and waiver and present acceptable proof of identify and residency. For more detailed information please contact the individual group by accessing their website below.
Northeast Portland Tool Library
https://www.neptl.org
North Portland Tool Library
http://northportlandtoollibrary.org/
Southeast Portland Tool Library
https://www.septl.toollibrarian.net/TL/ourtools.php
Metro
Portland, OR
503-797-1700
https://www.oregonmetro.gov/
Metro is the name given to the directly elected regional government that serves more than 1.3 million people who reside in the counties of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington as well as those in the 24 cities of Metropolitan Portland. Metro provides both transportation and land-use planning services, overseeing garbage disposal and recycling waste reductions programs. Metro manages regional parks and green space and the Oregon Zoo. It also oversees operation of major venues like the Oregon Convention Center, the Expo Center, and the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.
Multnomah County Library
http://multcolib.org
Provides Internet community information and encourages citizen involvement.
Social Security Administration
800-772-1213
https://www.ssa.gov
Provides many services from setting up direct deposit to check or benefit information.