summary
Introduced
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
In Committee
05/23/2025
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)
Pam Marsh (D)*,
Janeen Sollman (D)*,
Nathan Sosa (D)*,
Kathleen Taylor (D)*,
Tom Andersen (D),
Farrah Chaichi (D),
Willy Chotzen (D),
Sarah Finger McDonald (D),
Lisa Fragala (D),
Mark Gamba (D),
Jeff Golden (D),
David Gomberg (D),
Dacia Grayber (D),
Annessa Hartman (D),
Zach Hudson (D),
John Lively (D),
Lesly Muñoz (D),
Courtney Neron Misslin (D),
Daniel Nguyen (D),
Hoa Nguyen (D),
Deb Patterson (D),
Katherine Pham (D),
Jules Walters (D),
Last Action
Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker. (on 05/23/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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