Portland General Electric 2025 rate review seeks 7.4 percent average customer rate increase amid modernization push
In filing a 2025 rate review with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), Portland General Electric (PGE) recently proposed upping average customer rates 7.4 percent to cover investments in battery storage, transmission infrastructure and overall grid improvements.
Importantly, the review called for new battery energy storage projects to offer improved reliability and resilience during periods of peak demand. It also sought investments into transmission and distribution infrastructure to keep energy flowing dependably in the face of increasing demand. Its last major push was for upgrades to both technology in general and the company’s generation facilities in particular, again with stability in mind.
“To achieve the day-to-day reliability that customers expect while simultaneously solving for the challenges of the future, Portland General Electric is deploying battery energy storage technology to modernize and strengthen the grid,” Larry Bekkedahl, senior vice president of strategy and advanced energy delivery, said. “We are focused on delivering reliable electricity to customers while keeping the cost as low as possible.”
These upgrades would, over all, craft a smarter energy grid according to PGE. It would also support the pivot to more renewable resources. However, the filing is but the first step in the process. A public process will follow, and the PUC could take up to 10 months to review the proposed request.
PGE added that rate changes would not be likely until late 2024, meaning they wouldn’t take effect until at least Jan. 1, 2025. The final amount will be determined by the rate review process.
