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OregonHB 31792025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to public utilities; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Janeen Sollman (Democratic), Kathleen Taylor (Democratic), Nathan Sosa (Democratic), Pam Marsh (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Longer planning for household utility rates

The utility commission must require multiyear plans for electric and gas rate changes involving review of returns to shareholders. Utilities must file plans at intervals of three to seven years. Rules must also limit how many companies can request increases in one year. Plans remain subject to commission review, and rules can allow efficiency incentives, refunds, and exceptions for good cause. This planning requirement does not freeze bills or set a household savings amount.

Winter limits on household rate increases

The law took effect on passage and bars residential rate increases from starting November 1 through March 31. Increases involving commission review of a utility’s return on equity must be at least 18 months apart. That spacing rule ends January 2, 2027, or earlier when permanent multiyear rate-plan rules are adopted. These protections delay covered increases; they do not cancel them or cap their size.

Household affordability reviews and delayed costs

Oregon’s utility commission must consider how residential rate changes add to households’ existing costs. For increases involving return-on-equity review, utilities must report 18 months of bills, two years of winter heating bills, and hardship data. Reports also cover projected increases, regional costs, disconnections, energy assistance, overdue balances, and commercial and industrial energy costs. The commission can adjust increases that threaten adequate service, but must consider allowing recovery of those costs on future bills. For all rate revisions involving return-on-equity review, a separate cost-deferral review requirement ends January 2, 2027, or upon earlier permanent multiyear-plan rules.

More utility costs qualify for financing

More utility costs qualify for special bond financing, which can change when customers pay without erasing the costs. Eligible costs include conservation programs, declared emergencies excluding negligence penalties, plant retirement and restoration, environmental cleanup, and major regional energy shortages. A capital project qualifies if it alone raises residential rates over 5% and, with other expected costs, could significantly affect affordability. For regional shortage events, the commission must consider wholesale energy prices and supply, regional reliability assistance, and reliability declarations. Approved costs can be collected through charges on customer bills.

Utility bonds carry lasting customer charges

The commission must act on financing applications within 180 days and find bonds likely to receive investment-grade ratings. It must find expected customer costs are the lowest reasonable and prudent option, comparing financing methods in today’s dollars. Financing orders lock in recoverable amounts and customer-class allocations, creating protected repayment rights that utilities can transfer to financing subsidiaries. Charges follow customers covered when the order is issued, even after moving or switching providers, until bonds and financing costs are paid. Utilities advancing money for bond reserves or capital accounts get an opportunity to earn their latest approved cost-of-capital return.

Clearer utility bills and rate forecasts

Electric and gas utilities must publish a yearly visual breakdown showing each residential rate cost category and its percentage. Categories include transmission, distribution, power, wildfire protection, emergencies, insurance, and other approved expenses. At least annually, utilities must also publish expected rate adjustments for the next 12 months. Forecasts must show filing and start dates, dollar and percentage impacts, combined impacts, and affected customer classes. Protected confidential information stays private, and forecasts do not guarantee that expected changes will occur.

Longer, better-funded reviews of utility rates

Oregon’s utility commission can suspend proposed rates during review for up to 10 months, up from nine. This can delay either an increase or a decrease. Excessive or unjust interim increases can require refunds, including interest from the interim rate’s start date. Refunds take the form of bill credits or another method the commission orders. The commission also gets $463,653 in added spending authority for rate-increase reviews during the two-year budget period beginning July 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Janeen Sollman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kathleen Taylor

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nathan Sosa

    Democratic • House

  • Pam Marsh

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Annessa Hartman

    Democratic • House

  • April Dobson

    Democratic • House

  • Dacia Grayber

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • David Gomberg

    Democratic • House

  • Deb Patterson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Emerson Levy

    Democratic • House

  • Farrah Chaichi

    Democratic • House

  • Hoa Nguyen

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jason Kropf

    Democratic • House

  • Jeff Golden

    Democratic • Senate

  • John Lively

    Democratic • House

  • Jules Walters

    Democratic • House

  • Khanh Pham

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lesly Muñoz

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Fragala

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Gamba

    Democratic • House

  • Rep Neron

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sarah McDonald

    Democratic • House

  • Sue Rieke Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Tom Andersen

    Democratic • House

  • Willy Chotzen

    Democratic • House

  • Zach Hudson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 85 • No: 26

Senate vote • 6/24/2025

Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Gorsek. Passed.

Yes: 20 • No: 9

House vote • 6/23/2025

Third reading. Carried by Sosa. Passed.

Yes: 35 • No: 8

legislature vote • 6/17/2025

Ways and Means: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 18 • No: 5

House vote • 5/19/2025

Rules: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 4 • No: 3

House vote • 4/3/2025

Commerce and Consumer Protection: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 503, (2025 Laws): Effective date July 17, 2025.

    8/7/2025House

  2. Governor signed.

    7/17/2025House

  3. President signed.

    6/26/2025Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    6/26/2025House

  5. Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Gorsek. Passed.

    6/24/2025Senate

  6. Second reading.

    6/24/2025Senate

  7. Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.

    6/24/2025Senate

  8. Referred to Ways and Means.

    6/23/2025Senate

  9. First reading. Referred to President's desk.

    6/23/2025Senate

  10. Third reading. Carried by Sosa. Passed.

    6/23/2025House

  11. Second reading.

    6/20/2025House

  12. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.

    6/19/2025House

  13. Work Session held.

    6/17/2025House

  14. Returned to Full Committee.

    6/11/2025House

  15. Work Session held.

    6/11/2025House

  16. Assigned to Subcommittee On Natural Resources.

    6/7/2025House

  17. Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.

    5/23/2025House

  18. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means.

    5/23/2025House

  19. Work Session held.

    5/19/2025House

  20. Public Hearing held.

    5/7/2025House

  21. Referred to Rules by order of Speaker.

    4/9/2025House

  22. Without recommendation as to passage and be referred to Rules.

    4/9/2025House

  23. Work Session held.

    4/3/2025House

  24. Public Hearing held.

    2/25/2025House

  25. Public Hearing held.

    2/20/2025House

Bill Text

  • JWM Amendment -A9 (Adopted)

    6/17/2025

    PDF

  • JWMNR Amendment -A9 (Proposed)

    6/11/2025

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -8 (Adopted)

    5/19/2025

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -7 (Proposed)

    5/7/2025

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -8 (Proposed)

    5/7/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -6 (Proposed)

    4/3/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -6 (Proposed)

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -3 (Proposed)

    3/27/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -4 (Proposed)

    3/27/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -1 (Proposed)

    2/25/2025

    PDF

  • HCCP Amendment -1 (Proposed)

    2/20/2025

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • B-Engrossed

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    PDF

  • House Amendments to A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • House Amendments to Introduced

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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