President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Portl General Electric
Search every verified Maria Pope interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Maria Pope, president and CEO of Portland General Electric (PGE), discussed the company's cost structure and data center pricing in a July 2026 podcast interview. Pope stated that over the last five years, about 50% or more of PGE's cost increases have come from extreme weather, wildfire prevention, and insurance costs, including system hardening and higher transformer prices. She attributed approximately 30% of cost increases to higher taxes, energy efficiency programs through the Energy Trust of Oregon, and other policy choices, which she described as different from what other states are experiencing. Pope also addressed data center energy consumption, stating that residential and small business customers are not subsidizing data centers. She said that data centers will see a 29% price increase, which she described as reducing customer prices immediately and expected to further offset prices for residential and small businesses in the coming years. Pope noted that PGE has a philosophy that "growth pays for growth" and that the largest customers are paying the most.
“About 30% of our increases come actually from higher taxes, energy efficiency through the Energy Trust of Oregon, as well as other policy choices. And those are different than what other states are experiencing.”
“Residential or small business customers are not subsidizing data centers. And next week data centers will be seeing a 29% price increase, which actually reduces customer prices immediately, and is expected to further offset customer prices for residential and small businesses as we move forward in the coming years.”
“Residential or small business customers are not subsidizing data centers and next week data centers will be seeing a 29% price increase which actually reduced customer prices immediately and is expected to further offset customer prices for residential and small businesses as we move forward in the coming years. So I t...”
“Over the last five years, about 50% or more of our cost increases have also come from extreme weather, namely wildfire prevention and insurance costs. Some of this is due to restoration, but a lot of it is due to system hardening and investment. And a new transformer cost twice as much as a transformer cost 5 or 10 yea...”
“Our era of easy automatic growth has ended. Systems built for the needs of yesterday are misaligned with today's challenges.”
“Our economic performance is soft. And more importantly, demographic shifts and rising national and global competition pose very real risks of long-term decline if we fail to act.”
“The Oregon business plan has identified three key imperatives: creating good jobs and a strong economy, ensuring access to education that aligns with modern opportunities, and providing critical support so that one's future is not locked away by their zip code.”
“Achieving these goals requires strategic action, including a coherent regulatory and tax policy, infrastructure innovation, and access to natural resources and environmental policies that support growth.”
“While Oregon has traditionally outpaced the rest of the country in manufacturing, we are seriously falling behind, and stabilizing conditions in downtown Portland could take a decade or longer to restore vitality.”
“Oregon's population is declining, and many people are leaving the state, which is a concerning trend that impacts economic growth and community vitality.”
“To find our post-pandemic economic footing, we need to focus on factors that enable companies to flourish, including available land, a coherent regulatory environment, and infrastructure innovation.”
“The Oregon business plan emphasizes the importance of equity and inclusion for all Oregonians, with extra steps taken to ensure accessibility for those with disabilities.”
“Creating a healthy economy that drives well-paying, family-supporting jobs, and revenues for public and community services is essential for all Oregonians to lead prosperous lives.”
“The first imperative of the Oregon business plan is to create good jobs and a strong economy, which requires strategic action across multiple sectors including regulation, infrastructure, and natural resources.”
“We must rethink education to provide Oregon's youth with the skills and habits necessary to succeed in the 21st century, highlighting examples of world-class programs already working in Oregon.”
In this episode, PGE President and CEO Maria Pope talks with Oregon Business Matters about the generation and distribution of ...
In this episode, PGE President and CEO Maria Pope talks with Oregon Business Matters about the generation and distribution of electricity in Oregon, about PGE's role in serving the state's most economically significant region, about the company's commitment to renewable energy, about data center energy consumption and more.
President & CEO, Portland General Electric & Chair of the Oregon Business Council.
Welcome and Introduction - Maria Pope, President and CEO, Portland General Electric; Chair, Oregon Business Plan.
As part of National Clean Energy Week, Portland General Electric President and CEO Maria E. Pope delivered remarks.
... conversation between newly elected EEI Chair Maria Pope, president and CEO of Portland General Electric, and Antonio Neri, ...
Maria Pope, CEO of Portland General Electric (PGE), talks about the diversity and natural richness of Portland at the confluence of ...
On June 12, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation ...
Maria Pope, President and CEO, Portland General Electric.
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