Safe Digging Month Reminds Oregonians To Contact 811 Before Digging - 04/21/26

SALEM, Ore. – In recognition of National Safe Digging Month, the Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC), Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA), and Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) remind Oregonians to contact 811 before starting projects that involves digging.

Whether a professional contractor or do-it-yourselfer, all play an important role in preventing damage to underground utilities. Contacting Oregon 811 before you dig helps prevent serious injuries and avoid costly damage to essential utility services. There are three easy steps to safe digging in Oregon:

1. Submit a locate request at least two business days before digging at Oregon811.com or by calling 811
2. Wait for utility crews to mark the underground lines
3. Dig carefully

After a locate request is submitted, the OUNC notifies the utility companies that provide service to the area. Utility crews then visit the site and mark the approximate location of the underground lines, pipes, and cables able to be located, at no cost to the homeowner or contractor.

Meanwhile, employers must follow Oregon OSHA requirements to protect workers against the potential hazards of underground utilities. Those requirements include:

1. Notifying OUNC of the proposed area of excavations at least two working days before starting an excavation.
2. Estimating the location of utilities before opening or extending an excavation.
3. Determining by safe and acceptable means the exact location of the estimated utility installations when excavation activities approach them.
4. While excavations are open, underground installations must be protected, supported, or removed as necessary to safeguard employees.

Oregon OSHA offers employers free consultations – no fault, no citations, no penalties – to improve workplace health and safety programs and practices. It also offers free technical help with understanding and applying workplace safety rules.

Most utility line strikes happen during the warmer months, when construction and landscaping activity increases. National data shows that in 2024, an estimated 196,977 instances of damage occurred across the country, and 17 percent were caused by failing to contact 811.

For more information or to submit a locate request, visit Oregon811.com or call 811.

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Combined Decisions Result In A Rate Increase For PacifiCorp Customers Effective April 1 - 04/01/26

Updated 4/1/2026: This release updates the Residential Customer Impact section below. All other information remains unchanged.

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved rate adjustments for PacifiCorp residential customers that take effect April 1, 2026. The changes reflect the outcome of PacifiCorp’s annual power cost adjustment (true-up for 2024), which was resolved through an agreement among PUC staff, PacifiCorp, and consumer advocates. They also incorporate several additional filings that either increase or decrease customer rates, with the net effect being an overall increase.

Residential Customer Impact

The combined effect of the power cost adjustment and other routine filings is expected to increase the typical residential customer’s monthly bill by about $4.29, or 2.9%. Actual impacts will vary based on individual energy usage. Customers in Albany, Oregon, can expect an average increase of about $5.64, or 4.1% per month. This additional increase reflects the cost of relocating power lines underground as part of a City of Albany improvement project.

Residential rate changes were delayed until April 1 under House Bill (HB) 3179, the FAIR Act, which prevents residential rate increases during the winter heating season (Nov. 1-March 31) to help reduce customer cost impacts.

Reasons for the Adjustment

The overall change reflects updated actual costs for fuel, purchased power, wholesale market sales, and other power cost expenses for 2024 compared with the forecasted costs for that year. Several routine accounting and tax-related updates also contributed to the final outcome, with some filings resulting in a small rate decrease for customers and others resulting in modest increases. In addition, the adjustment incorporates the cost of two wind farms, which serve to displace more expensive power, as well as updated funding levels to support the Energy Trust of Oregon’s energy-efficiency programs.

“Our role is to ensure utility rates reflect the real costs of delivering power safely and reliably,” said Commission Chair Letha Tawney. “As fuel prices, wholesale market conditions, and renewable energy costs shift, we must update rates so they accurately reflect the cost of efficiently maintaining the service customers depend on every day. These adjustments also ensure continued investment in clean energy and energy-efficiency programs that benefit Oregon families.”

Manage Energy Use and Bills
 

• Explore rebates and energy-saving tips through the Energy Trust of Oregon.
• Learn about bill payment assistance, support for past-due balances, utility discount programs, weatherization services, or the Equal Pay Program that spreads energy costs evenly throughout the year by calling Pacific Power at 888-221-7070 or visit PacifiCorp’s website.
• Reach out to local Community Action agencies to find out what other support is available.

Pacific Power serves more than 650,000 customers in Oregon.

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Combined Decisions Result In Higher Rates For PGE Customers Starting April 1 - 03/31/26

Salem, OR – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved rate adjustments for Portland General Electric (PGE) residential customers that take effect April 1, 2026. The changes reflect the combined outcome of PGE’s annual power cost update, which was resolved through an all-party agreement among PUC staff, PGE, and consumer advocates. They also incorporate several additional rate-related filings that either increase or decrease customer rates, resulting in a combined net increase for residential customers.

Residential Customer Impact

The combined impact of the annual power cost adjustment and other rate-related filings is expected to increase the typical residential customer’s monthly bill by about $7.97 or 5%. Actual impacts will vary based on individual energy usage.

Residential rate changes were delayed until April 1 under House Bill (HB) 3179, the FAIR Act, which prevents residential rate increases during the winter heating season (Nov. 1-March 31) to help reduce customer cost impacts.

Reasons for the Adjustment

The overall change reflects updated forecasts for fuel and purchased power costs, recovery of approved storm-related expenses, and investments in the electric distribution system. It also incorporates adjustments related to low-income energy assistance programs, federal hydropower benefits, battery storage resources, demand flexibility, transportation electrification programs, community solar, and wildfire mitigation.

“Our responsibility is to ensure the lights stay on and service remains safe and reliable,” said Commission Chair Letha Tawney. “As climate change places new and growing pressures on the grid, the Commission carefully evaluates utility spending that supports system hardening and long-term resilience. These adjustments help ensure utilities can maintain the service their customers depend on every day.”

Resources for PGE Customers
 

• Explore rebates and energy-saving tips through the Energy Trust of Oregon.
• PGE provides free tools such as dashboards, rebates and incentives for energy efficiency, and programs including Smart Thermostat, Time of Day, EV Smart Charging, Peak Time Rebates and Equal Pay.
• PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program (IQBD) and other assistance resources are available for customers in need of support.

More information is available at portlandgeneral.com/save-money or by calling 503-228-6322.

PGE serves nearly 850,000 residential customers in Oregon.

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