For small and large business options information, click here .

Oregon's electricity restructuring plan

Oregon’s electricity restructuring law established a restructuring plan for Oregon’s investor-owned electric utilities, Pacific Power and Portland General Electric (PGE). It introduced more energy supply pricing options for all customers, and competition in electricity supply for business customers. The bill (Senate Bill 1149) was signed into law in July, 1999, and took effect on March 1, 2002.

Pacific Power worked extensively with state regulators, elected officials, citizen groups, environmental organizations and other interested parties to educate the utility's 500,000 Oregon customers.

What does the restructuring law do?

• Allows residential and small business customers to choose between regulated Basic Service and four other regulated electricity supply options provided by their local utility.
• Allows all business customers to choose unregulated market-based options, including alternative Electricity Service Suppliers (ESS).
• Establishes a 3 percent Public Purpose charge, which is directed to non-profit organizations for energy efficiency, renewable power, and low-income weatherization and housing. Most of the funds are directed to the Energy Trust of Oregon  for the kinds of programs Pacific Power used to administer.
• Requires Oregon's two investor-owned utilities (Pacific Power and PGE) to continue to collect funds for low-income bill assistance.

Did the law deregulate electricity ?

No. Pacific Power’s rates continue to be approved and regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC). Pacific Power continues to deliver power to your home, and it maintains the safety and reliability of its system of poles and wires that deliver power — no matter who supplies it.

What are my options?

Under Oregon's restructuring law, residential customers can purchase power from a portfolio of regulated options. An advisory committee working with the OPUC established the following choices:

• Basic Service — For customers who want basic electricity service from traditional generation sources. This is what most customers have today and will continue with if they do not select another option.
• Renewable Power Options :
  • Blue Sky ^SM  Block— This option gives customers the flexibility to purchase fixed increments (blocks) of new wind power, with the remainder of the electricity coming from traditional generation sources. All the electricity used is billed at the Basic Service rate, and each 100 kwh block of pollution-free new wind power you purchase upgrade costs an additional $1.95. Payments go directly toward the purchase of wind power from newly developed wind farms. Sign up for Blue Sky Block online. 
  • Blue Sky Usage — Under this option, customers purchase all their electricity from new renewable resources — a blend of new wind, biomass and solare — for only $0.0078 (less than a penny) more per kwh than Basic Service rates. Sign up for Blue Sky Usage online.
  • Blue Sky Habitat — As with Blue Sky Usage, customers purchase all their electricity from new renewable resources — a blend of new wind, biomass and solar — for only $0.0078 (less than a penny) more per kwh than Basic Service rates. In addition, customers make a $2.50 monthly contribution to a non-profit organization to support local salmon habitat restoration.  Sign up for Blue Sky Habitat online.

Time of Use    — Under this option, customers could save money if they shift electricity usage to off-peak hours. Electricity rates vary by time of day, day of week and season. There is a 12-month term, a special meter is required and a monthly meter fee of $1.50 applies. There is also a conditional price guarantee for the first 12 months a customer is on Time of Use. A shift in the time and day you use electricity is usually required to save money on the Time of Use option. Learn more about Time of Use  pricing and times, and try some of our online tools to find out if Time of Use is right for you.

• Seasonal Flux — This option has been discontinued. 

What do I need to do?

You don't have to do anything. If you do not make a selection, you will automatically continue on Basic Service. We do recommend that you review and understand all of your options, to ensure that you don't miss opportunities to sign up for the rate you want. Please review the regulated pricing options and become familiar with how the enrollment process works and what options will remain after making a choice. To enroll in a new option, click here . 

Some factors to consider:

• How and when you use power to better assess options
• Overall energy, cost and environmental objectives

Questions? Please call our Customer Service Center, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Pacific Time at 1-800-769-3717. Asistencia en Espanol: 1-888-225-2611.