Moving Energy Affordability Forward at the Legislature

With half of the 2025 legislative session now behind us, CUB staff are working hard to ensure energy affordability remains a top priority in Salem. We’re advocating for the FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) to make energy affordable for all Oregonians. We’re moving the POWER Act (HB 3546) forward to hold data centers accountable for their own energy needs. We’re fighting for Expanding Energy Assistance (HB 3792) to help struggling Oregon households.

CUB staff, energy advocates, and dedicated community members have spent countless hours advocating for these bills this legislative session. We’re not across the finish line yet, but we’re hopeful that we can make energy more affordable and accessible by passing these historic pieces of legislation. Read on to learn about what’s next for CUB’s priority bills.

FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179)

Too many Oregonians are struggling to afford their energy bills. The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) will make energy more affordable for all and help address Oregon’s energy affordability crisis. This legislation will center on residential customers and increase transparency for Oregon households. This includes ensuring any energy bill increases will be moved out of winter when energy usage is highest, making it easier for households to manage their bills. It will also give household economic conditions more weight in decisions about rate increases.

The Fair Energy Act has received widespread community support. Hundreds of community members contacted their legislators, submitted testimony, and spoke out at a public hearing supporting the bill. At the recent public hearing, community members burdened by high utility costs shared their stories and support for the Fair Energy Act.

HB 3179 is on its way to the House Rules Committee. Committee members will discuss amendments to the FAIR Energy Act and potential additional changes to the bill. If it passes out of the Rules Committee, the next step is Ways & Means before the bill can go to a full vote from the Oregon House of Representatives. After that, the FAIR Energy Act will move to the Senate.

The FAIR Energy Act still has a ways to go before becoming law. CUB and our partners on this bill, Verde, the Oregon Just Transition Alliance, and the Community Energy Project, are committed to moving this bill forward, but we need your help to pass it. It’s crucial to let your legislators know the FAIR Energy Act is important to you. Please write to your representatives and ask them to support HB 3179!

Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act (HB 3546)

CUB and other energy advocates are supporting the POWER Act (HB 3546) to hold large energy users accountable for paying for their own energy needs. This bill requires state regulators to protect households from paying for the energy needs of data centers and cryptocurrency. It will also help for-profit utilities identify the costs that these large energy users are adding to the system and make them pay their share.

The POWER Act has widespread bipartisan support from legislators and Oregonians. Over 400 community members contacted their legislators to support the bill, showing the will of the community to make energy affordable for all Oregonians. Energy advocates also testified in support of making these large energy users pay their fair share at a recent public hearing.

On April 8th, HB 3546 had a work session in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. Legislators discussed the POWER Act and showed bipartisan support for the bill. The POWER Act was passed out of the committee and will now go to the full Oregon House of Representatives for a floor vote. Thank you to the Committee Members who supported this historic bill!

With the POWER Act going to a House floor vote soon, it’s crucial to let your representatives know that the POWER Act is important to you. Supporters can write to their representatives and ask them to support HB 3546!

Expanding Energy Assistance (HB 3792)

As energy bills have skyrocketed in recent years, providing adequate funding for bill assistance has become vital for many Oregonians. While bills have gone up, energy assistance programs haven’t increased, leading to many families facing the hardship of disconnection. CUB is working hard with various allies to pass HB 3792 to expand the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) for thousands of PGE and Pacific Power customers who are struggling with unaffordable energy bills.

If passed, HB 3792 will double the funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program to meet growing household energy needs. With federal funding under direct threat, increasing this OEAP funding for Oregonians is crucial.

Community members have shown their support for expanding energy assistance by contacting their legislators and submitting testimony at HB 3792’s recent public hearing. At the hearing, CUB, fellow energy advocates, and community members shared emotional testimonies supporting this bill.

HB 3792 had a work session in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection on April 8th. Committee members discussed the bill, including its small-4 amendments. The bill passed out of committee and will now go to the House Committee on Ways and Means for consideration. If it passes out of the House Ways and Means, it will next go to the Oregon House of Representatives for a full vote. Thank you to the Committee Members who supported this timely bill!

With growing threats to federal energy assistance funding (LIHEAP), it’s crucial to let your representatives know that expanding Oregon’s energy assistance is a priority for you. Contact your legislator and ask them to support HB 3792 today!

Other Energy Affordability Bills CUB Supports

CUB is proud to join our partners in supporting additional legislation addressing energy affordability this session. Several complementary affordability bills are currently making their way through the legislative process.

Performance Based Regulation (SB 688)

Oregon’s for-profit electric utilities need encouragement to make choices that reflect Oregonians’ values. Switching to a performance-based utility regulation model empowers regulators to set rules for electric utilities that tie earnings to performance benchmarks in the public interest. SB 688 is currently awaiting a work session in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. CUB supports passing this bill and improving our utility regulation process.

Get the Junk Out of Rates (SB 88)

Utility companies try to pass the cost of “junk” such as expensive lawyers and lobbyists, advertising, industry association fees, and charitable donations onto customer bills. CUB supports getting the junk out of rates and increasing utility accountability around these costs by passing SB 88. This bill is heading to the Senate Rules Committee for a discussion and vote.

One Stop Shop 2.0 (HB 3081)

Poor insulation, air leaks, unsealed and unused vents and chimneys, and outdated heating systems are also barriers to energy affordability, as they increase energy use and energy bills, on top of making it more difficult for low-income households to live comfortably and affordably in their own homes.

Fortunately, there’s never been more financial help for Oregonians to upgrade their homes and buildings for better health, lower costs, less pollution, and higher resilience. HB 3081 would set up a “One Stop Shop” for busy households to access all the support available to make energy upgrades to their homes. This bill is currently being referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Advancing Energy Affordability

CUB is working hard to address Oregon’s energy affordability crisis and support struggling households by passing historic legislation. And Oregon has stepped up. Hundreds of community members have contacted their legislators, submitted testimony, and shown up in Salem to help advance these bills.

Together, we will pass historic legislation to make energy more affordable and accessible this legislative session. Show your support for affordable energy by contacting your legislator today!

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