Too Hot, Too Expensive: Oregonians Sweat as Data Centers Gorge on Cheap Power

Dirk Knudsen – The Real Story – A Column~

A brutal heat wave collides with years of electric rate hikes. Families are shutting off AC and cutting summer plans while Hillsboro’s server farms hum at a crisp 68°. Lawmakers moved to make Big Tech pay more—will it show up on your bill? No. They are not addressing the significantly inequitable rates that Portland General Electric is allowed to charge Data Centers. Oregon residential customers are paying 400% (4 Times) more for power than data centers do. Let that sink in. You and your household are suffering while Data Centers that power AI around the world, and enrich private equity funds and Wall Street, are raping our State of one of its most significant resources. Power!

AI Illustration: Hot homes, cool data centers — the Hillsboro contrast

Oregon is sweltering. For thousands of households, air conditioning is off—not by choice, but because power bills have climbed into crisis territory. Families are cancelling trips, skipping meals out, and trimming grocery lists to keep the lights on. Meanwhile, in Hillsboro, rows of large data centers run 24/7 in climate-controlled comfort, paying industrial rates that ordinary customers can only dream of.

How We Got Here: The Rate Hike Pile-Up

Residential customers have absorbed a series of steep increases in recent years, including roughly +7% (2023), a record ~18% (2024), and about ~5.5% (2025) for Portland General Electric (PGE).
Nationally, evidence is mounting that data centers are a major driver of rising system costs. One analysis cited by coverage of state actions found that ~70% (about $9.3B) of last year’s electricity cost increases were tied to data-center load growth.

Sources: Associated Press;
KPTV coverage.

PGE’s recent compounding hikes: 2022–2025. 35.5% in 3 years? And No One- Not One Oregon Political Leader Did a Damn Thing!

“It’s 98° outside and we’re afraid to turn on the AC.” — testimony echoed at recent utility hearings

Hillsboro: Ground Zero for the Northwest’s New Power Appetite

Hillsboro is now one of the nation’s top data-center hubs. Facilities by T5, Flexential, QTS, Stack, NTT, and others draw tens of megawatts each—the scale of a small city—yet produce comparatively few jobs. Industrial rate structures and legacy incentives have meant the broader grid upgrades often ripple onto everyone else’s bills. Not just Hillsboro ratepayers, but the entire region. We have the opportunity to tackle this problem locally, yet all we do here in the City of Hillsboro is approve more and more!

The Herald ran a poll in a previous story asking readers if they think we should tax data centers to make them pay into our community. They create a few jobs, but once open, they pose an environmental risk, such as the documented heat island effect, the outflow of hot water into our storm systems, and the recent lithium battery fire in Hillsboro. Should be one of the first communitites in the US to find a way to make them be good contributors to our City and people?

Oregon Legislature Moves To Limit Data Centers Threat To Our Power Systems, But Rates Remain Highly Inequitable

Related Herald coverage:
The Power Play •
Legislature Moves, Inequity Remains •
Is It Enough? •
Load Growth Outpacing Supply.

The Human Impact

Disconnections for non-payment are rising, according to advocates; many households are “one bill away” from losing service.
Residents report turning off AC during heat waves and cutting essentials to manage bills.
At public hearings, a massive outcry has focused on the gap between residential rates and large-load pricing.

Policy Break: Oregon’s POWER Act (HB 3546)

This year, lawmakers passed the POWER Act, creating a separate rate class for very large users (≥20 MW) and directing the Oregon PUC to assign grid and generation costs accordingly. In plain English: the biggest power consumers should carry their real tab, not households and small businesses. Implementation details now move to the PUC—where the fine print will decide whether Oregonians see relief or more of the same.

Background Sources: Fortune •AP •

Hillsboro, Oregon residents are paying at least 250% more for power than Data Centers in their community. Why won't politicians even raise this issue? We have to protect our citizens! — Hillsboro, Oregon residents are paying at least 250% more for power than Data Centers in their community. Why won’t politicians even raise this issue? We have to protect our citizens!

Why It Matters Right Now

Oregon’s traditional advantages—hydropower, affordable land, mild climate, and generous tax breaks—drew a server-farm gold rush. But the benefits are lopsided: few jobs per megawatt, high-value land conversion, and socialized infrastructure costs. In a heat wave, that math feels intolerable to ratepayers staring at another staggering bill.

What We Can Do

Demand rate transparency: Publish industrial rate classes and any special riders or discounts.
Make growth pay its way: Tie new data-center approvals to local grid investments, community energy funds, or direct bill credits.
Track shut-offs: Require utilities to release monthly disconnection data and heat-season protections.
Contact Your Leaders– Where are Washington County Leaders on this? Janeen Sollman takes on cosmetics, luggage, and dog shelters, but lacks the bandwidth or desire for this.

Where is any leadership on this issue? Well, here is a list of elected officials that represent Washington County – Contact them. Tell them what is on your mind regarding Power Rates! While it is hot, take aim and make a difference!

Washington County Legislators – Oregon State Capitol

District	Name	Party	Role	Email	Profile
25	Ben Bowman	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.BenBowman@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
27	Ken Helm	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.KenHelm@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
28	Dacia Grayber	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.DaciaGrayber@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
29	Susan McLain	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.SusanMclain@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
30	Nathan Sosa	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.NathanSosa@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
31	Darcey Edwards	Republican	State Representative	Rep.DarceyEdwards@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
33	Shannon Isadore	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.ShannonIsadore@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
34	Mari Watanabe	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.MariWatanabe@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
35	Farrah Chaichi	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.FarrahChaichi@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
36	Hai Pham	Democrat	State Representative	Rep.HaiPham@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
13	Courtney Neron Misslin	Democrat	State Senator	Sen.CourtneyNeronMisslin@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
14	Kate Lieber	Democrat	State Senator	Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
15	Janeen Sollman	Democrat	State Senator	Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
16	Suzanne Weber	Republican	State Senator	Sen.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
17	Lisa Reynolds	Democrat	State Senator	Sen.LisaReynolds@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile
18	Wlnsvey Campos	Democrat	State Senator	Sen.WlnsveyCampos@oregonlegislature.gov	Legislative Profile

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