HB3863 • 2025

Requires the Public Utility Commission to establish an eligibility cap at no less than 10 megawatts for the use of standard avoided costs rates and contracts for the purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

Energy

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Representative Helm, Representative Gamba
Last action: 2025-06-11
Official status: Chapter Number Assigned
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.

Requires the Public Utility Commission to establish an eligibility cap at no less than 10 megawatts for the use of standard avoided costs rates and contracts for the purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

Digest: Makes the PUC set a cap at no less than 10 MWs for the use of standard terms and conditions for buying power from a qualifying facility.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Makes the PUC set a cap at no less than 10 MWs for the use of standard terms and conditions for buying power from a qualifying facility.
(Flesch Readability Score: 60.3).
Requires the Public Utility Commission to establish an eligibility cap at no less than 10 megawatts for the use of standard avoided costs rates and contracts for the purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

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

2025-06-11 House
Chapter 149, (2025 Laws): effective on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
2025-05-22 House
Governor signed.
2025-05-15 Senate
President signed.
2025-05-14 House
Speaker signed.
2025-05-13 Senate
Third reading. Carried by Sollman. Passed. Ayes, 21; Nays, 8--Bonham, Girod, Linthicum, Nash, Robinson, Starr, Thatcher, Weber; Excused, 1--Gelser Blouin.
2025-05-12 Senate
Carried over to 05-13 by unanimous consent.
2025-05-08 Senate
Carried over to 05-12 by unanimous consent.
2025-05-07 Senate
Recommendation: Do pass.
2025-05-07 Senate
Second reading.
2025-04-30 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-04-23 Senate
Public Hearing held.
2025-04-15 Senate
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
2025-04-15 Senate
Referred to Energy and Environment.
2025-04-14 House
Third reading. Carried by Helm. Passed. Ayes, 40; Nays, 15--Boice, Boshart Davis, Breese-Iverson, Drazan, Elmer, Harbick, Helfrich, Lewis, McIntire, Osborne, Reschke, Scharf, Skarlatos, Wallan, Yunker; Excused, 4--Cate, Evans, Nguyen H, Walters; Excused for Business of the House, 1--Owens.
2025-04-10 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to April 14, 2025 Calendar.
2025-04-09 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to April 10, 2025 Calendar.
2025-04-08 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to April 9, 2025 Calendar.
2025-04-07 House
Second reading.
2025-04-04 House
Recommendation: Do pass.
2025-04-01 House
Work Session held.
2025-03-27 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-03-04 House
Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment.
2025-02-27 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Makes the PUC set a cap at no less than 10 MWs for the use of standard terms and conditions for buying power from a qualifying facility. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.3).
Requires the Public Utility Commission to establish an eligibility cap at no less than 10 megawatts for the use of standard avoided costs rates and contracts for the purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Relating to: Relating to qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978; and prescribing an effective date.
Current location: Chapter Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 3863
Sponsored by Representative HELM; Representative GAMBA
CHAPTER .................................................
AN ACT
Relating to qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978; amending
ORS 758.535; and prescribing an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 758.535 is amended to read:
758.535. (1) The Public Utility Commission shall establish minimum criteria that a cogeneration
facility or small power production facility must meet to qualify as a qualifying facility under ORS
543.610, 757.005 and 758.505 to 758.555.
(2) The terms and conditions for the purchase of energy or energy and capacity from a qualify-
ing facility shall:
(a) Be established by rule by the commission if the purchase is by a public utility;
(b) Be adopted by an electric cooperative or people’s utility district according to the applicable
provision of ORS chapter 62 or 261; and
(c) Be established by a municipal utility according to the requirements of the municipality’s
charter and ordinance.
(3) The rules or policies adopted under subsection (2) of this section also shall:
(a) Establish safety and operating requirements necessary to adequately protect all systems, fa-
cilities and equipment of the electric utility and qualifying facility;
(b) Establish the eligibility cap for standard avoided costs rates and contracts for the
purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities at no less than 10
megawatts;
[(b)] (c) Be consistent with applicable standards required by the Public Utility Regulatory Poli-
cies Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-617); and
[(c)] (d) Be made available to the public at the commission’s office.
SECTION 2.
This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
Enrolled House Bill 3863 (HB 3863-INTRO) Page 1
Passed by House April 14, 2025
..................................................................................
Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
..................................................................................
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Passed by Senate May 13, 2025
..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Received by Governor:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
Approved:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tina Kotek, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 3863 (HB 3863-INTRO) Page 2