Portland General Electric’s plan to increase rates this week for large load users like data centers has been delayed for at least one month.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission, which regulates and approves rates for major electric and gas utilities in the state, said on Wednesday it needs more time to go over a nearly 200-page file submitted by PGE to ensure its proposed rates are accurate and consistent.

“The Commission determined that additional time is needed for staff to carefully review the large volume of tariff updates to prevent errors and ensure customers are protected,” PUC Chair Letha Tawney said in a statement. “Since 2023, our focus has been on protecting Oregonians from the rising costs of rapid data center growth.”

The utility commission expects to announce its final decision on July 7, a month later than the power company had hoped.

Last week the PGE said it planned to increase rates for data centers by 29%, while reducing rates for residential and commercial customers.

The commission’s delay comes as it begins to implement the state’s POWER Act, which created a new rate class for data centers, cryptocurrency and other large industrial energy users, and requires them to pay their share of electricity and for their use of the electrical grid. The law passed last year.

Portland General Electric to increase data center rates by 29%, cut residential rates by 1.3%

PGE is the first major utility to begin implementing the new rate class.

PGE spokesperson Drew Hanson said the company is disappointed the commission decided to delay the rate changes.

“Our proposal includes price decreases for residential and small business customers that would have lowered monthly bills,” he said in an emailed statement. “These administrative delays are slowing down good work to balance economic development and bring needed relief to Oregon families and businesses.”

Hansen said PGE is not aware of any errors in the filing, and that the commission has not yet provided any analysis or feedback.

“We are working closely with staff as they review the new rates to support timely implementation,” Hansen said.

While PGE proposed increasing rates for data centers by 29%, residential customers would have seen a 1.3% decrease on their monthly bills. It originally planned to change those rates on Wednesday.

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While the delay might mean customers won’t see that decrease this month, Charlotte Shuff, outreach and communications director with the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, said her nonprofit watchdog group supports the delay.

“[We] support the PUC’s efforts to get this right the first time and make sure the new rates are fair and hold data centers accountable,” Shuff said in a statement. “This is a complicated and unique docket and we’re glad that the PUC is taking the review of this filing so seriously.”

Previously, the group said that PGE’s proposed rate change would still overcharge residential customers, and that more adjustments needed to be made.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/10/oregon-utility-regulators-delay-pge-data-centers/