(Portland, OR) -- New Oregon laws taking effect this year limit when private utility companies can raise electricity rates and expand consumer protections. House Bill 3179 blocks rate increases between November First and March Thirty-First, after state data showed about 70-thousand households fell behind on utility bills in 2024. Senate Bill 688 requires utilities to develop plans that reduce emissions, offer flexible payment options, and limit service disconnections for low-income customers, with oversight by the Oregon Public Utility Commission.