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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
Senate Bill 685
Ordered by the Senate April 16
Including Senate Amendments dated April 16
Sponsored by Senators PHAM K, GOLDEN; Senators CAMPOS, GORSEK, MANNING JR, TAYLOR, Represen-
tatives CHOTZEN, GAMBA, NOSSE (Presession filed.)
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. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: Makes a gas company give notice if the gas company plans to blend, for the first
time, hydrogen with natural gas more than a certain amount. (Flesch Readability Score:
60.0).
[Digest: Makes a public utility that wants to make or carry out a project with hydrogen to first
get approval from the PUC.(Flesch Readability Score: 61.4).]
[Requires a public utility to obtain authorization from the Public Utility Commission to develop
or carry out a project that involves the production or use of hydrogen in this state. Provides criteria
that the commission shall use to evaluate a proposed project.]
Requires a natural gas utility to provide notice to each customer of the utility and the
Public Utility Commission if the utility plans to increase the amount of hydrogen that the
utility blends with natural gas and the ratio of the volume of hydrogen to the volume of
natural gas will, for the first time, be greater than 2.5 percent.
Requires a natural gas utility that has a program for blending hydrogen with natural gas
to maintain on the utility’s website information regarding the utility’s program and how a
customer may communicate with the utility about the utility’s program.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to hydrogen; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 757.
SECTION 2.(1) As used in this section, “natural gas utility” or “utility” means a public
utility providing natural gas service to customers.
(2) A natural gas utility shall provide notice under subsection (3) of this section if:
(a) The utility plans to increase the amount of hydrogen that the utility blends with na-
tural gas that the utility delivers or furnishes through the utility’s distribution system; and
(b) This is the first time that the amount of hydrogen that the utility plans to blend is
such that the ratio of the volume of hydrogen gas to the volume of natural gas, expressed
as a percentage, is greater than 2.5 percent.
(3) A natural gas utility shall, at least 60 days prior to the date the utility begins blending
hydrogen in an amount described under subsection (2) of this section:
(a) Provide a notice to each customer of the utility that is affected by the plan to in-
crease the amount of hydrogen that the utility blends with the natural gas. The notice may
be provided to each customer in the same manner that the customer chooses to receive a
billing statement from the utility.
(b) File with the Public Utility Commission a notice that includes the following informa-
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 1953 A-Eng. SB 685
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tion:
(A) The reason for the increase in the amount of hydrogen that the utility plans to blend
with the natural gas.
(B) Any required siting or permitting approvals.
(C) A description of any public outreach conducted by the utility regarding the plan.
(D) Any other information requested by the commission.
(4) A natural gas utility that has a program for blending hydrogen with the natural gas
that the utility delivers or furnishes through the utility’s distribution system shall maintain
on the utility’s website information regarding the utility’s program for blending hydrogen
with natural gas and how a customer may communicate with the utility about the utility’s
program for blending hydrogen with natural gas.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the preconditions described under section 2 (2)(a) and (b)
of this 2025 Act, if by June 30, 2030, a natural gas utility has a program for blending hydrogen
with the natural gas that the utility delivers or furnishes through the utility’s distribution
system and has not provided a notice under section 2 (3)(a) of this 2025 Act, the natural gas
utility shall provide a notice as described under section 2 (3)(a) of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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