Governor Kotek Applauds PUC for Rate Increase on Data Centers

Salem, OR - Today, Governor Tina Kotek applauded the Oregon Public Utility Commission's (PUC) decision to implement the first updated rate proposal provided to the PUC under the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act, landmark legislation signed by the Governor in 2025 to protect Oregonians from rising electricity costs due to data centers and other large energy-users.

"Today's decision is a win for Oregonians," Governor Kotek said. "The POWER Act was intended to ensure fairness and accountability when large energy users, like data centers, take up more load on Oregon's electrical grid. We must continue to do whatever we can to keep working families and small businesses from absorbing the costs of data center energy use."

Starting July 8, data centers and other large energy users served by Portland General Electric (PGE) will see an average electricity rate increase of 29% while other PGE customers will see a decrease in their rates.

As highlighted in the Governor's press conference last week, the POWER Act directs the PUC to establish new rates for data centers and other large energy users that reflect the costs those facilities impose on the electric grid. The POWER Act was intended to ensure that the costs of serving the energy needs of data centers are not shifted onto residential and commercial energy customers. In the long-term, the POWER Act will decrease upward pressures on residential and small business customer rates resulting from data center development.