EWEB Advances $502 Million 2027 Budget
Eugene's community-owned utility moves forward with a proposed budget that includes a second water treatment plant on the Willamette River.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Utilities
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EWEB commissioners directed staff Tuesday to move forward with a proposed 2027 budget totaling $502 million. The budget advances a second water source and treatment plant, as Eugene currently relies on a single source and a single treatment plant.
Why it matters
The budget reflects aging infrastructure and growing risks alongside customer affordability pressures and shrinking federal funding. EWEB is deferring about $100 million in large projects over the next 10 years to soften the impact on customer bills.
The proposed $502 million budget allocates $130 million to disruption-resilience projects, $333 million to daily operations and $39 million to existing debt. Final Board review is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026, and the vote outcome is not yet known.
The players
Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB)
EWEB is a community-owned utility serving Eugene, Oregon, that operates on a not-for-profit basis governed by five elected volunteer commissioners.
The details
Five elected volunteer commissioners reviewed the budget in public meetings before directing staff to proceed. The plan also includes $100,000 in additional bill assistance, bringing 2027 funding to $2.2 million, and projects such as earthquake-resilient storage tanks at College Hill and rebuilding of the Jessen Substation in West Eugene.
Timeline
Tuesday (November 2026): Commissioners directed staff to move forward with the 2027 budget.
Dec. 1, 2026: Board holds final review and vote on the budget.
Feb. 1, 2027: New prices take effect on bills issued on or after this date.
Over the next 10 years: About $100 million in large projects are deferred.
Industry Context
EWEB's budget reflects a broader pressure on community-owned utilities to fund aging infrastructure amid declining federal support. Its deferral of about $100 million in large projects shows how local utilities are balancing reliability investments against affordability for ratepayers.
If approved, the combined electric and water monthly bill would rise about $9 for a small home or apartment and about $18 for an all-electric single-family home. Customers would see these changes beginning with bills issued on or after Feb. 1, 2027.
The takeaway
Customers should watch for the Dec. 1 Board vote and plan for modest monthly increases if the budget is approved. The deferral of large projects signals that affordability and infrastructure needs are being weighed against each other in the coming decade.
What happens next
The Board will hold a final review and vote on the budget on Dec. 1, 2026, and new prices would begin with bills issued on or after Feb. 1, 2027.
Further reading
For more on regional infrastructure planning, explore Utilities coverage in Eugene.
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