CUB Won Big for Customers this Legislative Session
Posted on June 27, 2025 by Cassie Allen
Tags, Energy, General Interest
That’s a wrap! Oregon’s 2025 legislative session has finally come to an end, and customers won big this year. Our staff stepped up to a busy legislative session by taking the lead on several major energy affordability bills, a first in our 41-year history. And we’re proud to announce that all of our priority bills and many that we supported passed this session!
CUB is proud of what we accomplished, but these victories belong to all of us. Thank you to the thousands of community members who contacted their legislators, submitted public comments, and testified in support of these bills! Together, we sent over 1,600 advocacy messages to legislators this session!
Read on to learn how these new laws will make utilities more affordable, accessible, reliable, and clean for all Oregonians.
Big Wins From The 2025 Legislative Session
The POWER Act (HB 3546) will hold data centers accountable. The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) will help make energy more affordable. And Expanding Oregon Energy Assistance (HB 3792) will expand emergency energy bill assistance. Additionally, CUB and fellow energy advocates successfully advocated for the Affordable Broadband Bill (HB 3148) and Performance Based Regulation (SB 688)!
Power Act (HB 3546)
Big Win: Data centers will now pay their fair share for energy
Data centers have been a growing problem in Oregon. Over the past decade, Oregon has seen an influx of data centers, which drive up demand for energy, strain our grid, and increase energy bills.
Now, regulators have the power to protect our energy bills by creating a new customer category for data centers. The POWER Act will also make for-profit electric utilities identify the costs that these large energy users are adding to the system—and make them pay their share.
Here’s What We Won For Customers:
- Protections for Oregonians’ Energy Bills: Oregonians will no longer be subsidizing data centers on their electric bills.
- Accountable Data Centers: Utility costs that are caused by data centers will be tracked and billed to data centers, not Oregonians.
- A Stronger Energy Grid for Everyone: Utilities can plan for how they can reliably provide electricity to everyone, including data centers.
This victory wouldn’t have been possible without you! Over 800 community members urged their legislators to support the POWER Act, showing their support for energy affordability and consumer protections.
“The POWER Act focuses on a subset of energy users that have a massive impact on the electrical grid. A 30 megawatt data center will use as much electricity as the City of Ashland and can be constructed in less than two years—and the number of data centers requesting service is unparalleled,” said State Representative Pam Marsh, who represents Southern Jackson County, Oregon. “That demand is unique and requires a distinct solution.”
Passing this law would not have been possible without the support of our partners: Climate Solutions, League of Oregon Cities, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and SEIU Local 503. And thank you to the many more who supported this bill!
FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179)
Big win: No winter increases, fewer rate hike requests
Too many people have been struggling to pay their energy bills. Oregon’s largest for-profit electric utilities have raised rates by nearly 50% since 2021. The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) was introduced to get energy bills under control and help Oregon households.
HB 3179 empowers state regulators to help families avoid big increases in energy bills. This legislation limits how often for-profit utilities can ask for bill increases to every three years and eliminates winter rate hikes for these utilities. Regulators also have more flexibility to consider economic impacts on customers.
Here’s What We Won For Customers:
- More Affordable Bills: Empowering state regulators to help families avoid big increases in energy bills.
- Fewer Increases: Spreading out utility rate increase requests to every 3 years by 2027 and removing winter rate hikes, keeps Oregonians connected.
- More Transparency: Utilities must publish upcoming bill increases and show where customers’ bills are being spent.
Supporters of the FAIR Energy Act showed up this legislative session! Over 400 CUB community members contacted their legislators in support of HB 3179, reinforcing that energy affordability is a top priority.
“I have heard repeatedly from my constituents how frustrated they are with the dramatic and repeated increases in their utility bills,” said State Representative Nathan Sosa (D-Greater Hillsboro). “This bill will prevent the historic price shocks we have seen in recent years.”
Passing this law would not have been possible without the support of our partners: Oregon Just Transition Alliance, Community Energy Project, Verde, Community Energy Project, Verde, and Multnomah County Office of Sustainability. And thank you to the many more who supported this bill!
Expanding Oregon Energy Assistance (HB 3792)
With Oregon families struggling to afford their energy bills, demand for energy assistance has skyrocketed. Currently, more than 4 in 5 Oregonians who qualify for energy assistance can’t access it. Especially after devastating cuts to federal energy assistance put Oregonians at risk, legislators needed to expand state energy assistance funds.
HB 3792 doubles the funding for PGE and Pacific Power customers of the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) to $40 million. PGE and Pacific Power households will now pay less than $1.50 each month to OEAP. These emergency funds help income-qualified families avoid disconnection when they are behind on their electricity bills.
Here’s What We Won For Customers:
- Expanded Energy Assistance: Doubles the existing fund to $40 million, keeping more Oregonians connected when hard times hit.
- Protections for Us by Us: The Oregon Energy Assistance Program helps PGE and Pacific Power customers who are in crisis avoid disconnection for past-due bills.
- Keeping Oregonians Connected: Increasing OEAP funds will help more families pay down past-due balances, stay connected to electricity, and avoid shutoff for utility debt.
HB 3792 wouldn’t have passed without the over 300 CUB community members who contacted their legislators in support of this bill! Together, we proved what we already know: when Oregonians come together, we win.
“The Legislature is taking action now to help fixed-income Oregonians from losing their electricity during cold spells in February or record high temperatures in July and August,” said Rep. Tom Andersen (D - South Salem), Chief Sponsor of the bill introduced in February. “Disconnections should not be a collection mechanism for our most at-risk Oregonians.”
Passing this law would not have been possible without the support of our partners: Multnomah County Office of Sustainability, NW Energy Coalition, Community Action Partnership of Oregon, Self Enhancement, Inc., Community Energy Project, and Verde. And a big thank you to all of the energy assistance providers who were involved with this advocacy effort!
Performance Based Regulation (SB 688)
Oregon’s for-profit electric utilities need some encouragement to make choices that reflect Oregonians’ values. Between skyrocketing costs, wildfire destruction, and struggles to reduce emissions, the existing model of utility regulation is becoming more and more harmful to customers.
Performance Based Regulation (SB 688) empowers regulators to create a new model that ties utility earnings to the public interest. With this new framework, utilities’ profits would be linked to what Oregonians value most. These priorities can be related to affordability, reducing emissions, meeting safety standards, and other goals.
Here’s What We Won For Customers:
- Encourages Performance-Based Regulation: Allows, but does not mandate, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) to adopt Performance-Based Regulation.
- Develops Performance Metrics: Empowers regulators to set benchmarks on clean energy transitions, energy efficiency, and reliability, tying financial incentives to actual results
- Supports Modernization of Utility Regulation: Provides resources to help the Oregon Public Utility Commission shift toward accountability-driven reviews of utilities’ requests to change customers’ billing rates, making utilities more responsive to public interest needs.
Thank you to Representative Pham for her leadership on this bill.
Affordable Broadband Bill (HB 3148)
Last summer, the federal government ended the Affordable Connectivity Program, leaving over 238,000 Oregon households without access to critical broadband internet assistance. Without assistance, many Oregonian families lost access to affordable internet.
HB 3148, the Affordable Broadband Bill, expands the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (Oregon Lifeline). Existing assistance will increase to provide up to $24.95 per month when combined with remaining federal programs. A one-time benefit of $100 will also be added for purchasing internet devices, like computers or tablets.
Here’s What We Won For Customers:
- Expanding the Oregon Lifeline: Existing assistance will increase to provide up to $24.95 per month when combined with remaining federal programs
- Increased Benefits for Program Participants: A one-time benefit of $100 will also be added for purchasing internet devices like computers or tablets.
Thank you to Representative Marsh for her leadership on this bill.
We’re Celebrating Our Successes—While Looking Forward
This was a jam-packed legislative session, but together we accomplished what we set out to do. We’ve taken a big step towards getting energy costs under control and keeping the lights on for more Oregonians, but our work is far from over. CUB is committed to ensuring these laws are implemented fairly and equitably, benefiting customers.
As the session ends, we’re already preparing for what’s next, and we need your support. CUB staff will be involved at every stage of the rollout of these new laws. Will you contribute now to ensure these laws are implemented fairly and equitably?
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07/28/25 | 1 Comment | CUB Won Big for Customers this Legislative Session