PGE & Pacific Power Raises Rates for 2025

Affective April 1, 2026, Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power (Pacificorps) have raised energy rates for nearly 1.5 million Oregon residents.

PGE increased energy rates 5%, or approximately $96 added to energy bills per year. Pacific Power increased energy rates 4.1%, or approximately $72 added to energy bills per year. This come after nearly six consecutive years of price increases.

This significant spike in energy costs would leave many Oregon residents and businesses grappling with the potential implications on their budgets and the local economy. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind PGE and Pacific Power’s 2026 rate hike and its potential impact on consumers and the community. We will also show how solar can help you fight back against energy price inflation and save you money. 

How Much Did PGE Raise Rates for 2026? 

PGE has raised its rates 5% affective April 1, 2026. This increase will raise the average Oregon resident’s energy bill an estimated $8 per month. This could mean an estimated $96 more per year spent on energy. 

PGE’s 5% energy rate hike follows several previous rate hikes: 5.5% increase in 2025, 18% increase in 2024, 7% increase in 2023, 11% increase in 2022, and 2% increase in 2020. 

Read Oregon Public Utility Commission approval of PGE 2026 rate increase. 

Why Did PGE Raise Energy Rates?

PGE has cited several factors contributing to the need for a rate increase, including forecasted increases in fuel prices, investment in electrical distribution systems, and costs associated with winter storms in 2024. PGE also cited increases in Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) funds that are paid by ratepayers.

See PGE’s rate increase statement here. 

How Much Did Pacific Power Raise Rates in 2026?

Pacific Power has raised its rates 4.1% affective April 1, 2026 for residents of Albany, Oregon. All other Pacific Power customers will see a 2.9% increase. The higher increase for Albany residents is related to street remodeling projects in the city that buried power lines underground.

This increase will raise the average Albany, Oregon resident’s energy bill an estimated $6 per month. This could mean an estimated $72 more per year spent on energy. For all other Pacific Power customers, a 2.9% increase would mean an estimated $52 more per year spent on energy.

Pacific Power’s 4.1% energy rate hike follows several previous rate hikes: 9.8% increase in 2025, 12.9% increase in 2024, 21% increase in 2023, and 15% increase in 2022.

Read Oregon Public Utility Commission approval of Pacific Power 2026 rate increase. 

Why Did Pacific Power Raise Energy Rates?

Pacific Power has cited several factors contributing to the need for a rate increase, including forecasted increases in fuel prices, investment in electrical distribution systems, and costs associated with winter storms in 2024. Pacific Power also cited increased investment in renewable power generation as a reason for the rate increase.

See Pacific Power’s rate increase statement here.

Customers Push Back in Recent Years

Many PGE and Pacific Power customers have expressed dismay about numerous rate hikes in recent years. And the Oregon Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group, is pushed back against PGE’s recent requests for rate hikes.

Oregon CUB said “enough is enough.” They called out PGE for raising rates nearly 30% between December 2022 and January 2024. They say now is not the time to raise rates even more. They also dispute PGE’s reasons for increasing rates so high in recent year.

Oregon CUB also claims that PGE’s is shifting risk from PGE and their shareholders onto consumers. By raising rates and pointing to rising costs of fuel, upgrades, maintenance, etc., PGE is piling the costs onto consumer while protecting shareholders.

In the end, PGE did not need to request so many and such steep rate hikes in recent years, says Oregon CUB.

“Much of what PGE is asking for are things that they did not get last year. And the thing that they point to as the need for the case, battery storage investments, may not even be online by January,” they said. “CUB sees little to like in this new filing and will vigorously oppose it. Customers cannot afford it. Enough is enough.”

Community Impact

The ripple effects of PGE and Pacific Power’s rate hikes extend beyond individual consumers. Businesses, particularly those in energy-intensive sectors, may experience an increase in operational costs, potentially leading to adjustments in pricing and workforce management. Additionally, the rate hike may spark conversations about energy policy and the broader transition to a sustainable energy future within the Portland community. 

Reduce or Eliminate Energy Bills with Solar

While there are several steps homeowners and businesses can take to reduce their energy bills and fight utility price inflation, those steps can only go so far. That’s especially true when utilities continue to raise their prices more and more, year after year. 

The best way to combat painful and constant energy prices is to find the best alternative to relying on the power company. As both fuel costs and demand for electricity rise, prices will continue to climb quickly. Being able to rely on a source of energy whose price isn’t dictated by external factors and corporate entities is your best bet. 

That’s where solar energy comes in. Solar energy allows you to produce your own power on your own property. No more will you have to solely rely on the utility company to provide you with the (expensive) power you rely upon. 

Even better, you can use battery backup to store your energy. This energy storage can be used to power your home in a power outage, or it can charge your electric vehicle (EV) so you can reduce your reliance on utility companies even more. 

Take action today and see how you can reduce your energy bills and your reliance on constant energy price inflation. Contact Green Ridge Solar today to get your free solar analysis. 

And try our Solar Calculator to see how much you could save with solar.