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SB330 • 2025

Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement of electric power lines.

Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement of electric power lines.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Golden, Representative Gamba,
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In Senate 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.

Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement of electric power lines.

Digest: Directs the PUC to adopt standards to require that power lines be placed underground.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: Directs the PUC to adopt standards to require that power lines be placed underground.
  • Provides for exceptions.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
  • Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement of electric power lines.

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 Senate

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-01-17 Senate

    Referred to Energy and Environment, then Ways and Means.

  3. 2025-01-13 Senate

    Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Directs the PUC to adopt standards to require that power lines be placed underground. Provides for exceptions. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement of electric power lines. Provides for exceptions.
Relating to: Relating to the placement of utility lines.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 330
Sponsored by Senator GOLDEN; Representative GAMBA (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: Directs the PUC to adopt standards to require that power lines be placed underground.
Provides for exceptions. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
Directs the Public Utility Commission to adopt standards requiring the underground placement
of electric power lines. Provides for exceptions.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the placement of utility lines.
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 758.
SECTION 2. (1) In addition to the standards adopted by the Public Utility Commission
under ORS 757.035, the commission shall adopt by rule standards for requiring the under-
ground placement of electric power lines.
(2) The standards adopted under this section must:
(a) Require the underground placement of an electric power line if a person is:
(A) Placing a new electric power line; or
(B) Replacing an overhead electric power line that is functionally obsolete, damaged or
destroyed; and
(b) Provide for criteria that the commission may use to determine whether to grant an
exception to the requirements under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(3)(a) A person may apply to the commission for an exception to the standards adopted
under this section for a proposal to place or replace an electric power line.
(b) In determining whether to grant an exception, the commission shall take into con-
sideration the cost of placing an electric power line underground compared to the cost of
placing the electric power line overhead.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the commission may not grant
an exception for the sole reason that the cost of placing an electric power line underground
is greater than the cost of placing the electric power line overhead.
(d) An exception may be granted for all or part of a proposal to place or replace an
electric power line.
(4) The commission shall grant an exception under this section if:
(a) The incremental cost of placing an electric power line underground is
percent or greater than the incremental cost of placing the electric power line overhead; or
(b) A person is placing a new electric power line and the cost of acquiring an under-
ground right of way is percent or greater than the cost of acquiring the over-
head right of way.
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 1340
SB 330
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