On June 24, 2026, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) issued an order in UM 2305 partially granting a complaint by Green Solar, LLC (Green Solar) against PacifiCorp regarding the cost to interconnect the small community solar project. Specifically, in Order No. 26-217, the OPUC directed PacifiCorp to revise its final billing after finding several of the utility’s interconnection costs unreasonable. Prior to the complaint, PacifiCorp attempted to charge Green Solar nearly double the initial estimates for the cost of interconnection.
The OPUC made four principle findings regarding unreasonable actions taken by PacifiCorp.
First, the OPUC found that PacifiCorp failed to accurately identify existing utility infrastructure under its own substation, increasing undergrounding costs for communication infrastructure.
Second, the OPUC found PacifiCorp failed to properly coordinate internally in the handling of overlapping transmission upgrades. PacifiCorp was aware that transmission poles needed to be replaced both for Green Solar’s interconnection and for a separate safety compliance project. PacifiCorp proceeded with the safety compliance project without accounting for the known interconnection needs, resulting in duplicative replacement of utility poles within one year.
Third, the OPUC found PacifiCorp’s decision to charge Green Solar for faulty radio equipment unreasonable. PacifiCorp had selected the vendor and purchased the radio equipment, but did not pursue a warranty remedy for the defective equipment.
Fourth, the OPUC divided approximately $20,000 in overtime costs equally between Green Solar and PacifiCorp. The OPUC found that both Green Solar and PacifiCorp contributed to delays in the project and that the resulting urgency at the end of the interconnection process was attributable to actions and inactions by both parties.
The order provides an important example of the OPUC’s approach to determining which costs are properly attributable to an interconnection customer and which costs must be borne by the utility. The decision demonstrates that an interconnection customer may be responsible for reasonable costs exceeding an initial estimate, but that utilities may not be able to pass through all the costs resulting from their own errors, omissions, or failure to coordinate related system projects.
Sanger Greene PC (Irion Sanger and Diego Rivas) represented Green Solar in the proceedings. Green Solar is a 2.875 MW community solar project near Culver, Oregon.