Starting Today, Oregonians Will Pay Less For Their Electricity
Starting today (July 8), Oregonians will pay less for their electricity as the Public Utility Commission (PUC) introduces a 29% increase for power consumption by data centers and other large energy users served by Portland General Electric (PGE).
Sources: Oregon Governor’s Office and Oregon PUC
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PGE Data Centers Will Pay More for Power Under New Oregon Rate Plan
Shifting the onus of payment more squarely onto power-hungry data centers is the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act, signed into legislation by Governor Tina Kotek last year.
The landmark legislation will protect residents and small businesses from the rising electricity costs of power-hungry data centers and other large energy consumers.
| PUC docket | UM 2377 |
| Commission order | Order No. 26 154 |
| PGE tariff filing | Nearly 200 pages |
| Rate tools | New data center rates and rules |
| Policy goal | Stop cost shifting to households |
Source: Oregon Public Utility Commission
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At a press conference last week, the Governor said the POWER Act directs the PUC to establish new rate structures for data centers and large energy consumers that impose increasing demands on the electric grid.
This will ensure that the costs associated with increasing energy needs will not shift onto residential and commercial energy customers.
Kotek describes the move as ‘a win for Oregonians,’ adding that it will ensure fairness and accountability.
“We must do whatever we can to keep working families and small businesses from absorbing costs of data center energy use,” says Kotek.