Oregon’s largest utility has approved a nearly 30 percent electricity rate increase for AI centers, crypto centers and other large power-use facilities. The increase in rates mirrors President Trump’s vision of large technology companies bearing the cost of power demand rather than ordinary citizens.
According to Breitbart, Portland General Electric will increase rates for large power consumers by 29.7 percent following unanimous approval from the state’s Public Utility Commission under the POWER Act, which was passed in April 2025. This increase will affect large industries, AI data centers, and cryptocurrency mining operations.
While the rate for large power users will go up, residential users will see a 1.3 percent decline in costs. Oregon’s POWER Act outlines protections against data centers and other massive electricity users from driving up rates for consumers, especially as the number of data centers in the country is expected to rise.
In an official statement, Public Utility Commission Chair Letha Tawney explained the reason behind the rate increase, saying, “These changes ensure that costs created by data centers in PGE’s territory are more accurately reflected in their rates.”
Tawney added, “By putting this structure in place now, we are getting ahead of a bigger issue, enabling responsible data centers to pay their own way, and protecting customers from higher costs in the future.”
The move supports President Trump’s intention to protect ordinary citizens from rising electricity costs associated with the company’s expanding data center infrastructure. Earlier in January this year, President Trump revealed in a social media post that Microsoft has committed to protect American consumers from rising electricity costs associated with the company’s expanding data center infrastructure.
He wrote, “I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers. Therefore, my Administration is working with major American Technology Companies to secure their commitment to the American People”
He added, “We are the “HOTTEST” Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE, but the big Technology Companies who build them must “pay their own way.”
