Oregon bill would ban utility rate increases amid unresolved wildfire lawsuits

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After the federal government filed a lawsuit against PacifiCorp on Dec. 19 for negligence during the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires, three Oregon lawmakers are calling for further accountability from utility companies for wildfire damage.

During the Oregon legislature's next session, three House Republicans are planning on proposing a bill that would ban utility companies from increasing rates if they have unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years.

The future bill comes after Oregon Public Utilities Commission approved a 9.8% rate increase for residential Pacific Power customers.

The state representatives behind the bill -- Jami Cate (R-Lebanon), Virgle Osbourne (R-Roseburg) and Ed Diehl (R-Stayton)-- said it is believed that PacifiCorp's failure to maintain its equipment -- including power lines -- contributed to the Labor Day Wildfires and sparked the Archie Creek Fire that burned more than 130,000 acres.

According to the lawmakers, the federal government asked the company to pay for costs associated with the fire in March 2023; however, the company has not made any payments toward the costs and instead is raising rates to pay for damages.

“When this [rate increase] goes into effect on January 1st, they will have raised rates nearly 50% since 2021—further exasperating the financial burden on wildfire victims and passing the buck to Oregonians—all while Pacific Power has yet to pay anything towards its wildfire liabilities,” the lawmakers said in a press release.

“Pacific Power continues to shirk their responsibility in the devastating 2020 fires that ravaged our state. I applaud the federal government for taking action to force financial restitution for the damages they incurred. It is now Oregon’s turn to put pressure on Pacific Power to finally own up to their liabilities, and stop the practice of rubber stamping historic rate hikes, finally ceasing the continued financial hardship of our wildfire victims. Inaction should not be our status quo when holding utility providers accountable,” Rep. Cate said in a statement.

Rep. Osborne noted that PacifiCorp has had “more than enough time to pay the costs they owe for the Archie Creek Fire,” adding, “PacifiCorp needs to pay up and take responsibility for the destruction they’ve caused, and putting a stop to rate hikes is the best way to achieve it.”