Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB3792: Relating to consumer protection for utility ratepayers.
Status: Chaptered, August 7, 2025
Digest: Raises the amount to be collected to help with electric bills for low-income customers. Tells the PUC to look every two years at the amount to be collected. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7). Increases from $20 million to $40 million the minimum amount to be collected from the customers of electric companies for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. Directs the Public Utility Commission to reassess every two years the community level of need for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. Allows the commission to adjust the amount to be collected based on its findings and changes to electricity rates. Requires the commission to report to the Legislative Assembly if the commission increases the amount to be collected by more than 2.5 percent. Increases from $500 to $1,000 per month per customer site the maximum amount that a customer may be required to pay for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, June 26, 2025:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session House Bill 3792 Sponsored by Representative ANDERSEN; Representatives CHOTZEN, GAMBA, GOMBERG, Senators LIEBER, MEEK, REYNOLDS, SOLLMAN CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to consumer protection for utility ratepayers; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 757.698. SECTION 1. ORS 757.698 is amended to read: 757.698. (1) An electric company, as defined in ORS 757.600, or Oregon Community Power shall collect funds for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance in an amount determined by the Public Utility Commission. The commission shall: (a) Establish the amount to be collected and rates to be charged by each electric company from its customers, including customers receiving electricity from other sources, such that the forecasted collection by all electric companies in a calendar year is at least [$20] $40 million. (b) Reassess every two years the level of community need for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. Based on the commission's findings and changes to electricity rates during the prior two years, the commission may increase the amount to be collected and the rates to be charged by each electric company from its customers. If the commission decides to increase the amount to be collected by more than 2.5 percent, the commission shall report within 30 days from the date of the commission's decision to the Legislative Assembly. The report must …