PGE Proposes Another Rate Increase — Eighth Straight Year for Portland Metro Customers

Portland General Electric has filed a new rate request with the Oregon Public Utility Commission that would raise residential bills by nearly 4%, adding roughly $8 a month for typical customers across the metro area — including Beaverton, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Clackamas — by July 2027.

The filing, submitted July 31, marks the eighth consecutive year PGE has raised rates. Taken together, residential electricity costs have climbed roughly 50% over just the past five years. This latest request follows a 5% increase that already took effect at the end of March, which added about $8 a month to typical bills.

PGE says the increases are funding infrastructure work — replacing aging utility poles, meters, distribution equipment, and transmission lines — aimed at reducing outages and improving reliability. Some of the investment is tied to the West Side Upgrade Projects, supporting growing energy demand stretching from Sherwood and Tigard down to Wilsonville.

Notably, the new proposal isn't uniform across customer types: PGE is also seeking a 29% rate increase for data centers, while proposing a small 1.3% cut for some residential customers under a separate filing — a sign the utility is trying to shift more of the cost burden toward large commercial users.

The rate request now enters a review process that's expected to take about ten months, with opportunities for public comment along the way. Ratepayer advocates have already pushed back publicly, calling for more transparency from PGE about how the increases are calculated and where the money goes.

Residents who want a say can watch for public comment opportunities through the Oregon Public Utility Commission as the review moves forward.