Oregon Public Utility Commission rules on PGE plan for data centers

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) announced on Friday a ruling that allows Portland General Electric (PGE) to implement a new electricity rate structure specifically for data centers. Under this ruling, PGE can now create a separate designation for data centers, enabling the utility to accurately track and bill them for their specific energy costs. This change is partly driven by significant investments, such as the $210 million PGE has spent on data center growth in Hillsboro alone by 2025, which data centers will now be required to contribute towards for the creation and upkeep of new power infrastructure. Furthermore, the OPUC has mandated that data centers consuming more than 100 megawatts will incur a surcharge. This revenue will be directed towards funding energy efficiency upgrades for low-income households. Cole Souder, an attorney with the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School, emphasized the tangible benefits of this surcharge, stating it will help alleviate the burden of rising energy costs for vulnerable customers, a need also identified by Energy Trust of Oregon.