1. (1) An electric or natural gas utility must make best efforts to put into effect a moratorium on the disconnection of utility service for nonpayment for residential and commercial customers affected by a level 2 or 3 wildfire evacuation notice or order issued by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. The moratorium will begin when the evacuation notice or order is issued and remain in effect until:

   1. (a) The day after the evacuation notice or order is lifted for commercial customers; and
   2. (b) Two days after the evacuation notice or order is lifted for residential customers.
2. (2) After a level 2 or 3 evacuation notice or order is lifted, an electric or natural gas utility must make best efforts to reconnect, upon request and subject to reconnection fees allowed under OAR 860-021-0330, a residential or commercial customer who has been disconnected for nonpayment within the previous seven calendar days of a level 2 or 3 wildfire evacuation notice or order. The request for reconnection must be made within seven calendar days after the evacuation notice or order is lifted.
3. (3) The electric or natural gas utility must make best efforts to have information available on its website concerning wildfire displacement protections; and when practical, information from the utility that includes energy utility contact information should be available at local emergency command centers, local community-based organizations, and local media.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 183, ORS 756 & ORS 757

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 756.040 & ORS 757.760

History

PUC 4-2025, amend filed 12/30/2025, effective 12/30/2025
PUC 10-2022, adopt filed 09/30/2022, effective 09/30/2022