Bill

Bill > HB3179


OR HB3179

Relating to public utilities; declaring an emergency.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2025
In Committee
05/23/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: Tells the PUC to look at the economic impact of a proposed residential rate or schedule of rates. Allows the PUC to adjust rates to mitigate an increase. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Digest: Tells the PUC to look at the economic impact of a proposed rate or schedule of rates if the rates lead to certain revenue results. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0). Directs the Public Utility Commission to consider the cumulative economic impact of a pro- posed rate or schedule of rates on a public utility’s ratepayers if the proposed rate or schedule of rates will result in an increase of the public utility’s revenue in this state by 2.5 percent or more. an elec- tric or natural gas company’s proposed residential rate or schedule of rates. Requires an electric or natural gas company to file an analysis of the cumulative economic impact on the company’s residential rate payers if the company’s return on equity is subject to review and modification. Modifies the commission’s general powers to give the commission broad discretion in setting rates. Authorizes the commission to adjust rates to mitigate or phase in an increase in rates if the increase would affect the ability of customers to maintain adequate utility services or could materially affect the economy of the state. an increase in residential customer rates if the increase would affect the ability of customers to maintain adequate utility services. Prohibits any increase in residential rates from taking effect from November 1 to March 31. Directs the commission to require an electric or natural gas company to establish a multiyear rate plan for certain rate revisions. Prohibits, until January 2, 2027, or the date the commission adopts rules regarding multiyear rate plans, certain rate increases from taking effect within 18 months from the date of the last rate increase. Authorizes a public utility, upon approval by the commission, to issue bonds and securitize debt for costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by the public utility associated with capital in- vestments that are approved by the commission. certain capital investments, retiring a generation asset, environmental remediation or an event in which the availability of electricity or na- tural gas within a regional energy market is significantly constrained. Requires a public utility that provides electricity or gas services to provide and make public a visual representation of cost categories included in the public utility’s residential customer rates for the preceding calendar year. Requires a public utility to provide and make public a quarterly report on any rate adjustments the public utility expects within the next 12 months. Requires an electric or natural gas company to provide and make public a visual repre- sentation of cost categories included in the company’s residential customer rates and a re- port on any rate adjustments the company expects within the next 12 months. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

AI Summary

This bill introduces comprehensive reforms to how electric and natural gas utility rates are set and reviewed in Oregon, with a focus on protecting residential ratepayers from significant rate increases. The bill requires electric and natural gas companies to conduct detailed economic impact analyses when proposing rate increases, mandating that the Public Utility Commission consider factors such as average monthly utility bills, cost of living, service disconnection data, overdue balances, and potential financial hardship for customers. The commission is given broader discretion to mitigate rate increases that could affect customers' ability to maintain utility services, and is prohibited from implementing residential rate increases between November 1 and March 31. The bill also requires utilities to establish multiyear rate plans, provide visual representations of cost categories in residential rates, and submit quarterly reports on anticipated rate adjustments. Additionally, the legislation expands the circumstances under which utilities can issue rate recovery bonds, including for capital investments that significantly impact residential rate affordability, generation asset retirement, environmental remediation, and events causing significant energy market constraints. The bill is designed to provide more transparency, protect consumers from sudden rate spikes, and give regulators more tools to manage utility pricing, with an emergency clause making it effective immediately upon passage.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (23)

Last Action

Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker. (on 05/23/2025)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3179
Open Government Impact Statement for HB3179 A https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/92423
BillText https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3179/House%20Amendments%20to%20Introduced
BillText https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3179/A-Engrossed
Staff Measure Summary for HB3179 A (House) for the House Committee On Rules https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/92177
Revenue Impact Statement for HB3179 A https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/92015
IS_Impact HB 3179 8 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/306175
IS_Impact HB 3179 8 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/306174
Fiscal Impact Statement for HB3179 A https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/92012
HB 3179 -8 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/306086
House Committee On Rules (2025-05-19) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/29060
HB 3179 (witness registration) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/304751
House Committee On Rules (2025-05-07) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/28870
HB 3179 -7, -8 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/304610
House Committee On Rules (2025-05-07) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/28838
Staff Measure Summary for HB3179 INTRO (House) for the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/89920
Staff Measure Summary for HB3179 INTRO (House) for the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/89903
IS_Impact HB 3179 INTRO https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/299115
IS_Impact HB 3179 INTRO https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/299114
HB 3179 -3, -4 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/298900
Fiscal Impact Statement for HB3179 INTRO https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/89037
Revenue Impact Statement for HB3179 INTRO https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/88918
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-04-03) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/27841
HB 3179 -3, -4 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/298020
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-04-01) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/27665
HB 3179 -3, -4 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/297173
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-03-27) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/27312
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-03-27) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/27283
HB 3179 (witness registration) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/292396
HB 3179 -1 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/292279
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-02-25) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/26490
HB 3179 (witness registration) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/291864
HB 3179 -1 Preliminary SMS https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/291759
House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection (2025-02-20) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/26449
Open Government Impact Statement for HB3179 INTRO https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/84148
BillText https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3179/Introduced
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