Oregon gave data centers a separate, higher rate

Willamette Week reports that Oregon regulators approved a rate increase for data centers under the state's POWER Act. The decision places data centers in their own rate category.

What happened

Under the new category, other users would see slight decreases, according to the report. Reporting notes that around half of states already require some utilities to set separate rate structures for data centers.

What it means for your home

Rate rules decide how the cost of data center power is shared. For a household, the practical steps are the same as anywhere: know your bill and keep backup light and power ready.

What to do this week

• Read your latest Oregon electric bill and note the total, so you can compare later months.
• Save your utility's outage page and phone number.
• Keep rechargeable lanterns charged and store a battery radio with spare batteries.
• Keep a week of water and nonperishable food together in one place.

For the bigger picture, read Why the grid is under strain.