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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3868
Sponsored by Representative HELM; Representatives GAMBA, OWENS
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: Tells ODOE to do a study to compare the avoided costs paid under PURPA against the
costs paid by IOUs to have clean power plants. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0).
Requires the State Department of Energy to study avoided costs paid to qualifying facilities
under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act compared with the costs incurred by
investor-owned utilities to acquire or maintain renewable energy generation facilities. Directs the
department to submit its findings to the interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to en-
ergy no later than September 15, 2026.
Requires state agencies, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish
information and advice necessary for the department to complete the study.
Sunsets January 2, 2027.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to costs for acquiring renewable energy.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Energy shall conduct a study to:
(a) Quantify and compare the costs:
(A) Approved by the Public Utility Commission and incurred or to be incurred by
investor-owned utilities in this state for acquiring or maintaining renewable energy gener-
ation facilities; and
(B) Paid by investor-owned utilities to qualifying facilities under the terms of the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2601 et. seq.);
(b) Further examine and develop the findings on the costs of small-scale renewable en-
ergy projects developed by the work group convened pursuant to section 18, chapter 508,
Oregon Laws 2021; and
(c) Analyze the accuracy of avoided cost schedules over time comparing the avoided costs
under contract terms with the costs actually paid under the contracts.
(2) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed, to the ex-
tent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice to
the department as the department considers necessary to complete the study under this
section.
(3) The department shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and
may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative
Assembly related to energy no later than September 15, 2026.
SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027.
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 1704