Oregon
Pacific Power seeks another double-digit rate increase for Oregon residents, businesses
The utility, which has some 600,000 customers in Oregon, increased rates last month by 12.9%, and 21% in 2023.
Battered by extreme weather and wildfire-related lawsuits, Pacific Power has asked state regulators to allow it to increase rates 16.9%, or about $29.47 per month on average for residential customers throughout Oregon.
If the Pacific Power rate case filed Thursday with the Oregon Public Utility Commission is approved at or near the requested 16.9% increase, it would be the third large increase in the past three years for its customers. The most recent rate increase of 12.9% took effect in January. In 2023, Pacific Power increased prices by 21% for residential customers.
“This is way too much,” said Bob Jenks, executive director of the Oregon Citizens Utility Board, a ratepayer activist group. “There’s no doubt that this is too much. Customers can’t afford this.”
Pacific Power said it is asking for the 16.9% increase to make transmission infrastructure improvements, invest in renewable energy and for wildfire risk management.
“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,” Pacific Power Vice President Matt McVee said in a statement.
The company said it wants to increase rates for both residential and business customers to generate about $304 million.
Rates for investor-owned utilities that operate in Oregon are set by the PUC in exchange for exclusive territories. The rate cases typically take months to go through the approval process and don’t take effect until January of the following year.
Pacific Power’s coverage area in the Willamette Valley includes Dallas, Stayton, Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, Sweet Home, Junction City, Creswell and Cottage Grove.
Pacific Power, also known as PacifiCorp, is owned in majority by Berkshire Hathaway Energy whose chief executive officer is billionaire Warren Buffett.
Are Pacific Power rates going up because of wildfire settlements, verdicts?
In the last year, PacifiCorp has paid out hundreds of millions to victims of wildfires following settlements, and juries have awarded plaintiffs millions more after determining its power lines ignited numerous fires.
PacifiCorp settled with victims of the Archie Creek Fire for $299 million and faces liability over its role in the 2020 Slater Fire and 2021 McKinney Fire.
In a class action lawsuit that blames the utility for igniting four of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, juries have awarded two groups of plaintiffs $90 million and $85 million, respectively. Additional trials are still to come.
Increased rates “do not seek recovery of any damages from the litigation or settlements,” spokesman Simon Gutierrez said. “Any recovery of costs related to litigation would be a separate rate action.”
Last year, PacifiCorp asked the PUC for permission to track costs related to wildfire litigation so it could potentially seek to recover those costs in a later rate proceeding, PUC spokeswoman Kandi Young said.
“The PUC has not taken action on the request and has made no decision on whether wildfire litigation costs may be included in rates,” Young said.
Threat of wildfires, extreme weather driving cost increase in Oregon
PacifiCorp has poured a lot of money into wildfire mitigation due to climate change and the landscape becoming more fire-prone.
The company said wildfire-related factors that were driving the increase included rapidly growing wildfire insurance premiums, wildfire mitigation, vegetation management and the creation of a catastrophic fire fund, which would create a mechanism to manage risks associated with increased wildfire activity.
Jenks said much of the rate increase request relates to wildfire-related costs, including wildfire mitigation, wildfire insurance and adding a layer of self-funded insurance.
“They’re up somewhere on $700 million of liability and they’ve got huge amounts more,” Jenks said. “That’s definitely a part of this case. That’s what’s led to their credit downgrade. That’s a significant issue of how do you deal with that.”
The company also mentioned extreme weather and extreme weather events, which have included multiple ice storms that knocked down power lines across western Oregon in 2021 and last month.
Climbing utility rates in Oregon
In December, the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved an 18% rate increase for residential customers Portland General Electric, which increased utility bills on average about $24 per month.
Jenks said Portland General Electric customers have had their rates increase about 30% over the past 14 months.
Northwest Natural Gas customers saw a 25% rate increase in 2022.
And now Pacific Power is asking for another big increase.
Jenks said the utility will not get the full increase they are asking for, but “even if they get half of this, that’s a huge amount of money to put into customer rates.”
“Customers can’t afford it,” he said
Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
Start Date: July 4, 1628
Location: Approximately 1 mile West of Hole in the Ground Vista Point
Jurisdiction: Deschutes Forest Service
Fire Size: 10 acres
Cause: Under investigation
Fuels: Mixed timber and sage
Containment: 0%
Structures at risk: Nearest structure is 1/4 mile
Fire Crews/Resources: Interagency resources are suppressing fire with 2 engines, 1 dozer, 1 water tender, and one air attack.
The BLM is working with the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service to coordinate with Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS). Visitors and locals may notice multiple agency logos posted and interagency COFMS prevention patrols by federal wildland fire apparatus throughout Central Oregon, reflecting a unified effort to suppress wildland fires.
Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information visit fire.airnow.gov.
Discover more from Central Oregon Fire Information
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The Polymarket promo code OREGON has been upgraded ahead of Independence Day, now delivering a $50 trading bonus on a $20 opening deposit — a total starting balance of $70 for new users who register today. The upgraded offer lands on one of the heaviest prediction market calendars of the summer: a fifteen-game Independence Day MLB slate with Seattle hosting Toronto this afternoon, a men’s soccer knockout round match between Canada and Morocco, and UFC markets already active for the Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor fight on July 11th.
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Polymarket Men’s Soccer Odds: Canada vs. Morocco Knockout Round on July 4th
The World Cup knockout round contest between Canada and Morocco is live today, with Polymarket tracking trader sentiment in real time. Morocco is the heavy market favorite, drawing 54% of winner probability against Canada’s 20%, with traders pricing a draw at 28%:
| Market | Canada | Draw | Morocco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match Winner | 20% | 28% | 54% |
| Spread — Win/Cover | CAN +1.5: 75% | — | MAR -1.5: 26% |
| Totals | Over 2.5 goals: 42% | — | Under 2.5 goals: 59% |
Polymarket men’s soccer odds represent live peer-to-peer market consensus and update continuously. All figures current as of July 4th, 2026.
Monitor live Polymarket odds for today’s men’s soccer knockout round.
Polymarket UFC Odds: Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor, July 11th
Polymarket’s UFC markets for the July 11th main event are already generating substantial trading volume, with Holloway holding a commanding position as the market favorite over McGregor heading into fight week:
| Fighter | Record | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Max Holloway | 27-9-0 | 67% |
| Conor McGregor | 22-6-0 | 34% |
Fight week developments — weigh-ins, media appearances, and training camp reports — will continue moving these Polymarket UFC odds through July 11th. All figures current as of July 4th, 2026.
Track all Polymarket UFC odds for the July 11th Holloway vs. McGregor card.
Independence Day MLB Polymarket Odds: West Coast Slate
The West Coast and Mountain time zones anchor the afternoon through the late-night portion of today’s Independence Day schedule, with Seattle’s home opener against Toronto leading the way. All five matchups below are live on Polymarket, tradeable with the $70 starting balance the promo code OREGON unlocks:
| Game | Time (ET) | Home Starter | Away Starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit at Texas | 4:05pm | K. Rocker (2-6, 3.83 ERA) | J. Flaherty (4-8, 2.68 ERA) |
| Toronto at Seattle | 4:10pm | L. Gilbert (6-5, 3.42 ERA) | S. Bieber (9-0, 6.00 ERA) |
| San Francisco at Colorado | 8:10pm | R. Feltner | R. Ray |
| Milwaukee at Arizona | 9:40pm | M. Kelly | B. Woodruff |
| San Diego at L.A. Dodgers | 10:10pm | Y. Yamamoto (8-5, 2.67 ERA) | G. Canning (1-5, 7.09 ERA) |
All game times Eastern. Polymarket MLB markets update in real time through the final out on the West Coast.
Trade today’s West Coast MLB Independence Day markets on Polymarket.
Polymarket Promo Code vs. Kalshi Promo Code: July 4th Comparison:
Prediction market traders comparing sign-up bonuses today will find active offers from both Polymarket and Kalshi. Here is how they stack up:
| Polymarket | Kalshi | |
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| Sports markets | Yes — MLB, UFC, men’s soccer, more | Yes |
| Political markets | Yes | Yes |
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Other Verified Polymarket Promo Codes for Independence Day:
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| Reported by: | Verified Polymarket Promo Code: | Link: |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse.com | CUSE | |
| MassLive.com | MASS | |
| OregonLive.com | OREGON | |
| Cleveland.com | CLEVE | |
| SILive.com | SILIVE |
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Polymarket is a prediction market platform, not a sportsbook. Users trade positions on event outcomes using real funds. Must be 18+ and eligible under applicable law. Trading involves risk. Bonus subject to Polymarket’s current terms and conditions. Offer valid for new accounts only.
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The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 3 drawing
05-09-29-47-57, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 3 drawing
1PM: 8-4-1-9
4PM: 2-5-9-0
7PM: 9-8-8-0
10PM: 1-3-8-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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