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Oregon Commission Adopts Temporary Rules on Interconnection in Accordance with Executive Orders

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On March 31, 2026, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) adopted temporary rules related to small generator interconnection in response to Oregon Executive Orders (EO) 25-25 and 25-29. Many stakeholders, including the Renewable Energy Coalition, Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Portland General Electric Company, and PacifiCorp, advocated for changes to Commission Staff’s proposed temporary small generator interconnection rules. The Commission issued Order No. 26-108 on April 1, 2026 adopting Staff’s recommendations. 

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals Upheld the FERC’s Grant of QF Status to Broadview Solar’s Solar-Plus-Storage Facility

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On February 14, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) grant of qualifying facility (QF) status to Broadview Solar. The Court upheld FERC’s decision that a 160 MW solar-plus-storage project is a QF under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). 

Oregon Court of Appeals Affirms Oregon Public Utility Commission Order Regarding PGE’s PURPA Fixed Price Term and Oregon Public Utility Commission Jurisdiction

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On January 5, 2023, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed an appeal of the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s (Commission) order in Docket No. UM 1931 regarding Commission jurisdiction over executed Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) contracts and the start of Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE) fixed-price term under then-existing standard power purchase agreements (PPA). The Court’s decision held that the 15-year fixed-price period under PGE’s then-existing PURPA PPAs began at contract execution not commercial operation date and that the Commission has jurisdiction over executed contracts between qualifying facilities (QFs) and the utilities. 

Washington Commission Adopted Settlement that Increases Avista’s Avoided Costs

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At the December 22, 2022 Open Meeting, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the Commission) approved Avista’s avoided cost Schedule 62 tariff filing for small qualifying facilities in Docket No. UE-220783. The new tariff was the result of an informal settlement between Avista, Commission Staff, the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition (NIPPC), and the Renewable Energy Coalition (REC). 

Washington Commission Approves PSE Interconnection Tariff

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The Washington Utility and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) approved a new interconnection tariff for Puget Sound Energy (PSE). PSE’s new tariff is only available to state jurisdictional qualifying facilities (QFs) interconnecting and selling power to PSE under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), and provides a third, lower cost option for interconnection service. 

OPUC Declines Jurisdiction over QF PPAs

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On June 25, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) dismissed the case brought against NewSun Energy (NewSun) by Portland General Electric (PGE) that sought to terminate the power purchase agreements (PPAs) of select qualified facilities (QFs). The primary dispute was over the timeline of the QFs to come online and be commercially viable. NewSun argued there was force majeure, or, unforeseeable and unpreventable circumstances which prevented the facilities from achieving their commercial operation dates. The Commission agreed concluded that case should be adjudicated in court and dismissed the case, without prejudice.