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Portland General Electric (PGE) customers can comment on the utility’s latest request to raise electricity rates on Tuesday, November 10, after the utility proposed an increase that, if approved, would increase a typical residential monthly bill by about $8.33.
Tuesday’s Proposed Household Bill Increase & PGE Hearing
An Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) public hearing is scheduled for November 10 at 6 p.m. Pacific time to discuss PGE’s 2027 General Rate Case.
Anyone wishing to comment must join by 6:30 p.m., according to the PUC. The hearing notice says it will remain open until at least then and may continue longer if people are waiting to speak.
The PUC’s hearing notice provides the Zoom and telephone joining instructions.
PGE wants to increase its total revenue from Oregon customers by $178.8 million – about 4.8% – across all customer categories. Residential customers would face an overall increase of 3.9%, or about $8.33 a month based on average monthly consumption of 780 kilowatt-hours.
Tidings Data Snapshot
PGE’s Proposed Rate Increases by Customer TypeSelected customer categories in the 2027 general rate caseProposed average changes for selected categories, subject to PUC approval. Individual bills vary with usage and rate schedule.
Source: PGE / 2027 General Rate Case customer FAQDailyTidings.com
Two of the motivating factors PGE raised for the increase were the effects of extreme weather and changing patterns of electricity use. PGE says the proposed increase would:
- Support investments in grid reliability, and
- Accommodate growing regional energy demand.
Written comments can also be submitted through the PUC’s public comment form, identifying docket UE 473.
The December and February dates are requests for comments to be included in staff testimony. Later comments will still be reviewed.
Consumer Advocates Raise Concerns over PGE Rate History & Cost Allocations
The 4.8% increase proposal follows several years of rising electricity costs for PGE households. The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB) said the latest increase would be the company’s eighth consecutive year of rate increases.
Residential rates rose by nearly 50% between 2021 and 2025, according to CUB.
CUB also questioned how PGE allocates its costs, arguing that residential customers carry too big a share of the company’s overall expenses.
Distribution costs, according to the consumer advocacy organization, are the biggest driver of the latest proposed household increase.
The advocacy group also raised concerns that some associated spending could be unnecessary. PGE said efforts to reduce operating costs have already lowered its original rate request by $25 million.
As part of the regulatory process while the PUC considers the request, public comments have been invited. The commission expects to issue its final decision in June 2027, with any approved rate changes scheduled to take effect July 4, 2027.
Be the first to comment.