HB 3609
Requires each electric company to develop a distributed power plant program for the procurement of grid services to be provided by distributed energy resources.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
88%
Oppose
12%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires Oregon electric companies to create and operate distributed power plant programs. These programs will procure grid services from distributed energy resources, such as batteries and smart thermostats, and allow customers to participate directly or through third-party aggregators. The Public Utility Commission will set procurement targets and performance incentives for these programs, and electric companies can recover related costs. The bill also establishes initial requirements and a timeline for implementation, including compensation for system-wide peak load reduction from energy storage devices.
Key provisions
- Each electric company must develop and operate a distributed power plant program.
- The program must procure grid services from distributed energy resources.
- Customers can enroll directly or through third-party aggregators.
- Electric companies must offer a standard offer tariff for grid services.
- The Public Utility Commission will set annual procurement targets and performance incentives.
- Compensation will be provided for system-wide peak load reduction from energy storage devices.
- The program must include classes of distributed energy resources technologies like batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles.
- Electric companies can recover prudently incurred program costs in rates.
Who is affected
- Electric companies
- Customers of electric companies
- Distributed energy resource owners
- The Public Utility Commission
- Ratepayers
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3609 advocate for the development and integration of Distributed Power Plants (DPPs) into Oregon's electric grid to address growing electricity demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable development. They emphasize the benefits of DPPs in saving customers money, providing grid benefits, preventing power outages, and reducing reliance on polluting power plants. Proponents highlight the potential for DPPs to empower individuals and communities to strengthen the power grid, while also promoting energy independence, clean energy, and operational resilience. By scaling up DPPs across Oregon, supporters believe the bill can create economically and environmentally responsible electric generation, improve resilience, and benefit utility customers, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for the state.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of House Bill 3609 express concerns that the proposed legislation will impose unnecessary burdens on existing power companies' infrastructure, leading to increased violations and costs. They also worry about duplicative requirements for demand response programs, which may undermine their effectiveness and increase costs for consumers. Additionally, critics argue that the bill's complexity and lack of clarity on key terms like "climate" amount to greenwashing, making it difficult to discern genuine climate mitigation efforts from marketing gimmicks.