Page "Portland General Electric" Paragraph 11

PGE survived from bankruptcy through selling Portland Traction in August 1946 for $ 8 million in cash, cheap power purchases from BPA beginning in the fall of 1939, and net profits by the end of 1941.

In the meantime, Ormond R. Bean, the Oregon Public Utility Commissioner, forced PGE to lower its rates.

Ultimately, PEPCO and PGE were saved by World War II, which led to the construction of three Kaiser Shipyards and of Vanport City, Oregon to support them.

By 1945, PGE derived nearly $ 400, 000 in revenue from the two Kaiser shipyards in Oregon.