Climate Pollution Fee on new gas appliances
Summary
A wall of opposition from unions, the gas industry, realtors, and the Chamber asked the council to postpone its February 11 direction vote until Pacific Power and grid-capacity data are in hand.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 9
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jun 3, 2026.
Impact analysis
Pacific Power filings cited potential 10-140% rate increases that critics say the city's 2% estimate doesn't reflect.
If enacted, builders of all-electric homes and climate goals supporters; builders and gas users benefit from delay.
Critics say new homebuyers and gas-dependent trades and businesses would bear added costs if the fee advances.
Mentions & discussions (12)
Another Oregon city adopts tax on natural gas appliances to reduce emissions
Another Oregon city adopts tax on natural gas appliances to reduce emissions OregonLive.com
Bend Passes Fees on Gas Appliances in New Homes - The Source
Bend Passes Fees on Gas Appliances in New Homes The Source - Bend, Oregon
City Council Business Meeting - Jun 3, 2026
New single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and ADUs that install gas appliances would pay a fee at permit issuance starting April 1, 2027, capped around $2,000 for a fully gas-fueled average home (set at 20% of the social cost of carbon). Revenue funds climate mitigation and electrification incentives. Builders and business groups say it adds housing costs; supporters call it a needed climate step.
City Council Work Session - Apr 22, 2026
Bend is preparing a fee on new gas appliances in most new homes to push electrification, with first reading June 3, 2026. Council settled key details: no affordable housing exemption, lower fee for dual-fuel heat pumps, and an April 1, 2027 start. Affordable housing builders actually asked NOT to be exempt, worried about long-term utility bills.
City Council Business Meeting - Apr 15, 2026
Roughly 20 speakers debated a fee on gas appliances in new construction, with supporters wanting it strong, starting April 2027, with no exemptions, and builders, unions, the gas utility, and the Chamber pushing for pilots, exemptions, or delay. Council will discuss it April 22 and vote in June.
Bend could become 2nd city in Oregon to charge for gas appliances in new homes - Oregon Public Broadcasting
Bend could become 2nd city in Oregon to charge for gas appliances in new homes Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB
Bend City Council - Electrification Round Table - Apr 8, 2026
Bend is designing a one-time fee on gas appliances in new construction — about $2,000 for a typical all-gas home, set at 20% of the calculated social-cost-of-carbon value. The council took stakeholder input on exemptions and timing and will shape the policy at an April 22 work session, with a target to pass it in June.
City Council Business Meeting - Feb 18, 2026
Bend is moving toward a fee on natural gas appliances in new homes, set at 20% of the maximum based on the social cost of carbon. Most testifiers wanted the full fee; plumbers and gas customers warned about costs and process. Final vote expected late May or June after a roundtable and work sessions.
City Council Work Session - Feb 11, 2026
Bend is weighing a fee on gas appliances in new single-family construction to push electrification and cut carbon. Council leaned toward the lowest analyzed level — 20% of the max — meaning smaller nudges like $1,431 for a furnace rather than big whole-house charges. Your existing home isn't affected, and listening sessions this spring will shape exemptions and timing.
City Council Business Meeting - Feb 4, 2026
About two-thirds of the public testimony was split between supporters of a climate impact fee on gas appliances in new construction and opponents — including gas industry representatives and union trades workers — arguing it will worsen affordability and strain the grid. Council takes the item up at a February 11 work session with Pacific Power.
City Council Business and BURA Meeting - Jan 21, 2026
A wall of opposition from unions, the gas industry, realtors, and the Chamber asked the council to postpone its February 11 direction vote until Pacific Power and grid-capacity data are in hand.
City Council Business Meeting - Jan 7, 2026
Council is weighing a fee on natural gas appliances to fund electrification incentives, but builders, the Chamber, and the city's own economic board say the data on housing-cost and emissions impacts isn't solid enough. Creation of the committee that would advise on it was pushed to after the February 11 fee-design work session.
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