Will I Get Cut Off?
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Oregon

ORStrong
15
Days notice (electric)
15
Days notice (gas)
✓
Winter moratorium
✓
Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

  1. Call your utility before the date on your notice

    Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.

  2. Apply for energy assistance

    LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.

  3. Dial 211 for local help

    211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.

  4. Ask about medical certification

    Oregon recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.

  5. Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you

    oregon.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Oregon. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

ElectricGasWaterMedicalLow IncomeRegulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required15 days
Reconnection fee$9 to $30 standard, at 2 of 2 utilities below
Winter moratorium: November–March severe weather moratorium (OAR 860-021-0407): disconnection must be postponed when temperature is forecast below 32°F during November–March, or during an active Winter Storm Warning. Moratorium remains in effect for 48 hours after the qualifying event. If service was disconnected within 72 hours before a moratorium event, utility must make best effort to reconnect upon customer request. Year-round: electric utilities must implement a moratorium during any Heat Advisory.

Major Utilities

Pacific Power (Pa…Portland General …

Pacific Power (PacifiCorp)

Eastern and southern Oregon; includes Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and other counties; communities include Medford, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Cave Junction, Sutherlin; also eastern Oregon. Approximately 600,000+ Oregon customers.

15-day notice
Severe weather moratorium suspends disconnection when the forecast high is below 32F, and disconnections also pause during Heat Advisories, Level 2-3 wildfire evacuations, and days with AQI 100 or above
A medical certificate (OAR 860-021-0410) prohibits disconnection for 6 months, or 12 months for a chronic condition
No reconnection fee for income-qualified or medical certificate customers, or for weather- or wildfire-event reconnections, per Pacific Power's Oregon customer protections page
OAR 860-021-0405 requires at least 15 days' written notice before disconnection for nonpayment
No disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or state/utility-recognized holidays unless the customer, utility, and Commission Consumer Services all agree
Pacific Power's own Oregon tariff (Schedule 300, Rule 11B) sets the reconnection charge at $30.00 during regular business hours, $75.00 for non-regular weekday hours, $175.00 on weekends and holidays, and $7.00 for a remote reconnection
the $7.00 remote charge corrects a previous claim of no charge for remote reconnections, which this tariff does not support
Reconnection fee:$30.00 during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.); $75.00 non-regular weekday hours; $175.00 weekends and holidays; $7.00 for remote reconnection
Assistance Programs

Low-Income Discount (LID) Program: 20–40% monthly discount for households at ≤60% State Median Income, self-attestation only, recertified every two years. Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP). Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Oregon Energy Fund (crisis grants).

"Oregon Schedule 300 - Charges as Defined by the Rules and Regulations (Pacific Power)." pacificpower.net. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Portland General Electric (PGE)

Portland metro and Willamette Valley; portions of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, and Polk counties; 51 incorporated cities; approximately 944,000 retail customers.

15-day notice
Severe weather moratorium when the forecast high is below 32F, and disconnections also pause during Heat Advisories
A medical certificate (OAR 860-021-0410) prohibits disconnection for 6 to 12 months
PGE periodically suspends disconnections for Income-Qualified Bill Discount and medical certificate customers during extreme weather or per legislative or PUC directive
OAR 860-021-0405 requires at least 15 days' written notice before disconnection for nonpayment
No disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or state/utility-recognized holidays
PGE's own Oregon tariff (Schedule 300, Sheet 300-2, effective April 15, 2026) sets the standard reconnection charge at $9.00 at the meter base and $145.00 other than the meter base, rising to $26.00 and $370.00 for after-hours reconnection (crews dispatch up to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday)
Reconnection fee:At meter base: $9 regular hours (Mon–Fri before 7 p.m.); $26 after-hours. Other than meter base: $145 regular hours; $370 after-hours. Per PGE Schedule 300, Sixth Revision, effective January 1, 2026.
Assistance Programs

Income-Qualified Bill Discount (IQBD) Program: up to 80% discount for households at ≤60% State Median Income. Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP, year-round). LIHEAP (seasonal, federally funded). Local Community Action Agencies. Payment extensions and time-payment plans available online.

"PGE Schedule 300, Sixth Revision of Sheet No. 300-1 and 300-2 (P.U.C. Oregon No. E-19)." assets.ctfassets.net. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required15 days
Reconnection fee$30 to $32 standard, at 2 of 3 utilities below

Major Utilities

NW Natural (North…Avista Utilities …Cascade Natural G…

NW Natural (Northwest Natural Gas)

Portland metro area, Willamette Valley, and surrounding Oregon and SW Washington communities; approximately 800,000+ meters; 140+ communities in Oregon.

15-day notice
Severe weather moratorium when forecast high is below 32°F (OAR 860-021-0407)
Medical certificate (OAR 860-021-0410) prohibits disconnection
customer with medical need receives additional 5 business days to submit written certificate
Bill Discount Program customers and medical certificate holders: reconnection fee waived for standard-hours reconnection following nonpayment disconnection (per UM 2211 protections, effective 2026)
NW Natural wrongfully disconnected ~198 protected low-income households in Nov–Dec 2025 and subsequently compensated them
15-day written notice required before disconnection for nonpayment (OAR 860-021-0405)
No disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or state/utility-recognized holidays (OAR 860-021-0320)
Time-payment agreements (12-month plans, OAR 860-021-0415) prevent disconnection if maintained
Gas reconnection requires in-person field crew visit for safety inspection and relight of each gas appliance
Customer has 20 days after disconnection to reconnect without a new service application
must pay at least half of past-due balance at reconnection
Reconnection fee:Reconnection charge specified in Oregon Schedule C (P.U.C. Or. 25, 2025 revision). Specific dollar amount not publicly accessible (NW Natural PDFs return HTTP 403). Bill Discount Program participants and medical certificate holders are not charged a reconnection fee for standard-hours reconnections following nonpayment disconnection.
Assistance Programs

Bill Discount Program: 15–85% monthly discount for households at ≤60% State Median Income (launched November 2024; no proof of income required). Gas Assistance Program (GAP): shareholder/customer donation fund disbursed through Community Action Agencies. LIHEAP (federally funded, priority Nov–Mar). Debt forgiveness program for low-income customers with recurring debt (launched 2025). Oregon Energy Fund.

"NW Natural Bill Discount Program — NW Natural." nwnatural.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Avista Utilities Gas Oregon

Southern Oregon: Medford District including Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Glendale, Gold Hill, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, Rogue River, Shady Cove, Talent, and White City; also Roseburg, Klamath Falls, and La Grande areas.

15-day notice
Severe weather moratorium when the forecast high is below 32F
A medical certificate (OAR 860-021-0410) prohibits disconnection for nonpayment
My Energy Discount program customers and medical certificate holders pay no reconnection fee for a standard-hours reconnection following a nonpayment disconnection
OAR 860-021-0405 requires the utility to provide written notice at least 15 days before disconnecting residential service, except for a handful of listed causes such as customer request or deposit nonpayment
No disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or state/utility-recognized holidays
Avista's own Oregon rights and responsibilities brochure, which still backs the assistance-program and late-fee details below, does not restate the day count
If disconnected for non-payment of deposit, the customer must pay the full deposit plus reconnect fee plus late fee plus half of the past-due balance to restore service, with the remaining balance due within 30 days
Reconnection fee:$30 during office hours (before 5 p.m., Mon–Fri); $50 after hours. Per Avista Oregon Tariff Sheet 20 (Miscellaneous Charges), effective December 2, 2024.
Assistance Programs

My Energy Discount (Oregon bill discount program): discount based on household income and size at ≤60% State Median Income; lasts 2 years; apply by phone (800-227-9187), mail, or through local Community Action Agency. Project Share: donation-based emergency assistance distributed through Community Action Agencies. LIHEAP. Oregon Energy Fund.

"OAR 860-021-0405 - Notice requirements prior to disconnection (Oregon Administrative Rules)." oregon.public.law. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Cascade Natural Gas (MDU Resources)

28 communities in central and eastern Oregon including Bend, Ontario, Baker City, Pendleton, Hermiston, and surrounding areas; approximately 75,000+ Oregon customers.

15-day notice
Severe weather moratorium when forecast high is below 32°F (OAR 860-021-0407)
Medical certificate (OAR 860-021-0410) prohibits disconnection
customer may self-attest medical need and must provide written confirmation from a qualified medical professional within 60 days
Energy Discount Program (EDP) customers and medical certificate holders: no reconnection fee for standard-hours reconnection following nonpayment disconnection
Wildfire Level 2-3 evacuation moratorium: no disconnection during evacuation order
15-day written notice required before disconnection for nonpayment (OAR 860-021-0405)
Per UM 2211 compliance documentation (February 2026), utilities are also required to provide a 20-day notice and a 5-day notice before shutoff
No disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or state/utility-recognized holidays (OAR 860-021-0320)
no more than $200 required upfront to reconnect service
Time-payment agreements (12-month plans, OAR 860-021-0415) prevent disconnection if maintained
if disconnected within 72 hours before order, customer may request reconnection after order lifts
Gas reconnection requires in-person field crew safety inspection
Reconnection fee:$32 standard business hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon–Fri); $100 after hours (5 p.m.–9 p.m., Mon–Fri). Energy Discount Program participants and medical certificate holders: no reconnection fee for standard-hours reconnection following nonpayment disconnection.
Assistance Programs

Energy Discount Program (EDP): auto-enrollment for qualifying LIHEAP, OLIBA, or Winter Help recipients; income threshold ≤150% Federal Poverty Level or ≤60% Oregon State Median Income. Winter Help: donation-based emergency heating assistance for temporary hardships. LIHEAP (crisis, prevention, and restore payments via Community Action Agencies). Oregon Energy Fund.

"Customer Protections — Cascade Natural Gas Corporation." cngc.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Major Utilities

Portland Water Bureau

City of Portland, Oregon. Municipal water utility.

No temperature-based winter moratorium found
Service may be disconnected when charges are more than 10 days past due (Portland City Code 21.40.040)
the code section points to the annual rate ordinance for the dollar figures
That ordinance (Exhibit A, FY 2025-26) sets a $5 reminder late fee, a $14 pre shut-off fee, a $35 last-chance fee, and a $120 authorization-to-disconnect fee as the bill moves toward shutoff
After shutoff for nonpayment, restoring service outside regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., no charge) costs $200 for a Monday-Friday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. request, and $250 for a Monday-Thursday overnight, Friday after 9 p.m., or weekend/holiday request
Not regulated by the Oregon PUC for rates (municipal utility)
OAR 860-021 energy disconnection rules do not apply
Reconnection fee:No fee during standard business hours (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). After-hours (Mon–Fri 5 p.m.–9 p.m.): $200. Overnight/weekend (Mon–Thu 9 p.m.–8 a.m., or Fri 9 p.m. onward): $250. Authorization-to-disconnect administrative fee (charged at 56 days overdue, before actual shutoff): $120.
Assistance Programs

Smart Discount Program: automatic 5–80% bill discount for income-qualified customers based on algorithmic eligibility assessment, no application required (FY 2025–26 pilot). Financial Assistance Program: income-based ongoing bill discount plus up to $500 crisis voucher; 2-week collection hold while application is reviewed. Regulated Affordable Multifamily Assistance Program (RAMP). Flexible no-cost payment arrangements available.

"Exhibit A, Water Rates and Charges, FY 2025-26 (Portland Water Bureau rate ordinance)." efiles.portlandoregon.gov. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

Medical certificate postpones disconnection. Customers whose health depends on continued service receive enhanced protections under Oregon PUC rules. Life-support customers receive enhanced notification.

Low-Income Protections

Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) available through Oregon Housing and Community Services. Oregon's Residential Service Protection Fund (RSPF) provides bill payment assistance for low-income customers. PGE and Pacific Power offer low-income discount rates.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Oregon's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-09-21. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.