Oregon Governor Signs Bills to Cut Energy Costs and Hold Big Data Centers Accountable

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed into law four bills yesterday that will assist lower-income households with the cost of energy and ensure that large consumers, like data centers, pay accordingly.

$20 Million Extra to Assist Lower-Income Households

Apart from channeling an additional $20 million into Oregon’s energy assistance fund to help lower-income families afford the cost of electricity, Kotek signed four bills to reduce energy costs for all residents of the state.

Kotek says that every Oregonian deserves affordable and reliable energy and that the new legislation will place Oregon in the forefront of technical innovation and environmental justice.

House Bill 3792 allocates an additional $20 million to assist lower-income families, while House Bill 3179 restricts the frequency at which energy providers can increase rates.

House Bill 3546 will ensure that data centers pay according to energy consumption, and Senate Bill 688 directs the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to reward or penalize utility companies based on performance.