Pacific Power proposes 17% price hike

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Pacific Power proposed a plan to raise its residential rates by almost 17% in 2025.

The price hike would run the average customer an extra $30 a month, but Pacific Power said that money would go to good use.

The company wants to use the money for wildfire risk management, transmission infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

Pacific Power just asked the Oregon Utility Commission for permission to raise its rates. The increase would bring over $300 million to the company.

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The rate adjustment request from Pacific Power comes months after its parent company, PacifiCorp, agreed to pay out $299 million to settle lawsuits related to the 2020 wildfire in Southern Oregon that destroyed around 170 homes.

The lawsuits claimed Pacific Power ‘ignored warning signs that the windstorm over Labor Day weekend in 2020 posed a major fire risk.’

Pacific Power’s vice president of regulatory policy and operations Matt McVee sent out a statement regarding the rate request.

“While our essential operating costs remain low, extreme weather events and increased wildfire risks are impacting all households and businesses, raising the costs of providing our essential services. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our customers and our communities and will continue to seek new ways to reduce impacts to customer bills while making critical investments in the West’s energy grid.”