# Oregon Electricity Rate Changes: What Changed in 2026 and What's Next

> Oregon's two largest utilities raised residential rates on April 1, 2026: Portland General Electric by 5%, about $8 a month, and Pacific Power by about 3%. A state law bars increases from November through March.

- URL: https://solarexaminer.com/posts/oregon-electricity-rate-changes-2026/
- Site: Solar Examiner (https://solarexaminer.com/)
- Category: Electric Rates
- Published: 2026-10-04
- Last verified: 2026-10-04
- Author: Tehseen Arbab

## Key takeaways

- We found no Oregon rate change dated October 1, 2026. The 2026 increases took effect April 1.
- Portland General Electric rates rose 5%, about $8 a month for an average customer. Pacific Power rose about 3%, more than $4 a month.
- Oregon's FAIR Energy Act prevents rate increases between November 1 and March 31, so winter filings land on April 1.
- It was the sixth straight year of approved residential increases. Rates are more than 50% higher than five years ago.



Oregon's large utilities did not change rates on October 1, 2026. The year's increases took effect on April 1, and state law now blocks further increases over the winter.

This article covers Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power, which together serve about 1.5 million Oregon customers. It does not cover Idaho Power's Oregon territory, consumer-owned utilities or cooperatives.

## Quick Summary

| Utility | Effective | Residential change | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland General Electric | April 1, 2026 | +5% | About $8 |
| Pacific Power | April 1, 2026 | +3% (4% in Albany) | More than $4 |
| Either | Nov. 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 | No increases allowed | n/a |

## What Changed on April 1

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved:

- **PGE:** a 5% residential increase, about $8 a month for an average customer.
- **Pacific Power:** about 3% for most residential customers. Albany customers saw 4% because of a city street project.

A PUC spokesperson told the Oregon Capital Chronicle the utilities cited fuel costs, grid investment, wildfire mitigation, and clean energy and efficiency programs.

## The Longer Trend

- It was the **sixth year in a row** the commission approved residential increases.
- Rates are **more than 50% higher** than five years ago, more than twice the rate of inflation since 2020.
- Residential demand grew about 10% over the last decade. Industrial and data center demand grew about 70%.

## Why the Calendar Matters

The FAIR Energy Act prevents rate increases between November 1 and March 31. That protects winter heating bills, and it means several filings can stack up on April 1. Expect the next round of changes around April 1, 2027.

Oregon also has a new law requiring large technology companies to pay for the infrastructure their data centers need. The PUC was due to rule on PGE's compliance plan in spring 2026. We did not confirm the outcome.

## What This Means for Homeowners With Solar

We did not verify Oregon's current net metering or export credit rules for this article, so we give no export rates here. Ask your utility for its current solar tariff, and check how exported energy is credited before sizing a system. Fixed monthly charges are not reduced by solar.

Our [solar payback guide](/posts/solar-payback-period-without-federal-tax-credit/) shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.

## What to Check on Your Bill

1. The basic charge.
2. The per-kWh tiers, and whether you are on a time-of-use plan.
3. Adjustment schedules listed below the energy charges.

For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to [reading your electric bill](/posts/how-to-read-your-electric-bill/).

## Limitations

Figures come from the Oregon Capital Chronicle's report of the PUC decision. We did not open PUC orders, and we did not research pending 2027 requests, Idaho Power or consumer-owned utilities.

## Sources

- [Oregon Capital Chronicle, "Pacific Power, PGE raise residential electricity rates again for Oregon customers," March 31, 2026](https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/31/pacific-power-pge-raise-residential-electricity-rates-again-for-oregon-customers/)
- [OPB, "Portland General Electric, Pacific Power residential rates to climb Wednesday," March 31, 2026](https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/31/portland-general-electric-pacific-power-raise-rates/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Did Oregon electric rates change on October 1, 2026?

We found no change on that date. Portland General Electric and Pacific Power raised residential rates on April 1, 2026.

### Why did Oregon rates change in April and not January?

The FAIR Energy Act bars rate increases between November 1 and March 31. Requests that would have taken effect in winter are grouped for April 1.

### Can rates rise again before winter?

Under the FAIR Energy Act, increases cannot take effect from November 1 through March 31. An increase between now and October 31 would need Public Utility Commission approval. We found none scheduled.


Image credit: Photo by Yuma Solar on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/two-solar-panels-on-a-rooftop-with-autumn-foliage-1WDIkQumWtA?utm_source=solarexaminer&utm_medium=referral)