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HB3159 • 2025

Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.

Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Cate
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In House Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.

Digest: Limits the amount by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a year.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: Limits the amount by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a year.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
  • Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.
  • Relating to: Relating to public utility rates.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-27 House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-01-17 House

    Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection.

  3. 2025-01-13 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Limits the amount by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a year. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.
Relating to: Relating to public utility rates.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3159
Sponsored by Representative CATE (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Limits the amount by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of rates in
a year. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
Limits the maximum percentage by which a public utility may increase a rate or schedule of
rates in a calendar year to the average percentage change of the Consumer Price Index.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to public utility rates.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 757.
SECTION 2. (1) The Public Utility Commission may not approve for a public utility an
increase of a rate or schedule of rates that is:
(a) Greater than the maximum percentage increase allowed for the calendar year under
subsection (2) of this section; or
(b) When added to any increases of a rate or schedule of rates that the commission
previously approved for the calendar year, greater than the maximum percentage increase
allowed for the calendar year under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The maximum percentage that a public utility may increase a public utility’s rate or
schedule of rates for a calendar year is the September annual 12-month average change in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, West Region (All Items), as most re-
cently published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.
(3) No later than September 30 of each year, the commission shall publish the maximum
percentage increase allowed for the following calendar year under subsection (2) of this sec-
tion.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 2169