Committee hears competing views on bill to classify large energy users, including data centers

The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment on May 5 held a public hearing on House Bill 3,546 A, which would direct the Oregon Public Utility Commission to create a rate classification and contracting tools for very large energy customers, including data centers and cryptocurrency operations.

Proponents told the committee that large, rapid‑onset loads impose unusual infrastructure costs that should not be socialized across residential and small‑business customers. Representative Mark Owens, the bill’s sponsor, said investor‑owned utility territory (IOU) customers currently pay a standard rate while the cost of new infrastructure is folded into the utility rate base. “Why shouldn’t they be paying for the infrastructure to put that in? Why shouldn’t they be signing a contract to pay for the amount of power to provide them?” Owens asked, adding that…