Oregon

Community solar

Expands solar access by allowing customers to subscribe to a portion of a nearby solar project and save on their electric bills.

Net metering

Determines how solar customers are paid for the energy their panels generate and how much money they save on their electric bills.

Interconnection

Helps get energy projects like rooftop solar connected to the grid quickly by setting clear standards and timelines for utilities and installers to follow.

Solar permitting

Lowers costs and barriers to installing rooftop solar by simplifying local permitting processes.

Virtual power plants and distributed energy resource aggregation

Pays the owners of solar panels, batteries, smart thermostats, and other distributed energy resources to help provide power to the grid at key moments. Also known as distributed power plants or community power networks.

Plug-in solar

Allows consumers to use small solar panels that plug into a standard electrical outlet to save money on their electric bills.

Third party ownership

Helps homeowners to avoid the upfront cost of going solar by allowing a rooftop solar installer to own the equipment and share the financial benefits through a lease or power purchase agreement.

Community choice energy

Allows cities to choose their own energy sources on behalf of all residential and small commercial customers, rather than relying on their utility’s choices.

Inclusive utility investment

Helps customers make energy upgrades with no upfront costs. Also known as inclusive financing, tariff on-bill financing, or Pay As You Save®.

Franchise authority

Allows cities to negotiate better franchise contracts and fees with electric and gas utilities.

Hosting capacity analysis

Requires utilities to share information about grid capacity. This information helps independent power producers choose the best locations for new energy projects.

Gas ban preemption

Prevents communities from making their own decisions on building electrification by prohibiting cities from passing gas bans.

(States earn an F for having this policy, and an A for NOT having it.)

Disconnection prevention

Protects customers from losing electricity service for nonpayment.

Restructured generation market

Minimizes conflicts of interest by prohibiting investor-owned distribution and transmission utilities from also owning generation assets.

Disallow construction work in progress

Prevents utilities from charging customers for construction costs before a power plant is operational.

Intervenor compensation

Helps consumer advocates and community groups participate in the state utility regulatory commission proceedings that determine electricity rates and other policies.

Disallow lobbying cost recovery

Prohibits utilities from charging their customers for the company’s lobbying costs, campaign contributions, and other expenses.

Disallow trade association cost recovery

Reduces the risk of utility customers paying for utility trade association activities that contradict consumer interests.

Disallow charitable contribution cost recovery

Prohibits utilities from charging their customers for contributions to nonprofits.

Right of first refusal

Allows utilities to build new regional transmission lines without soliciting competitive — and potentially cheaper — bids.

(States earn an F for having this policy, and an A for NOT having it.)