ORS 757.808: Transmission system additions, improvements or modifications; analysis of alternatives; grid enhancing technologies; state policy.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Advanced reconductoring” means reconductoring with a conductor that has a direct current electrical resistance at least 10 percent lower than existing conductors of a similar diameter while simultaneously increasing the energy carrying capacity by at least 75 percent and includes carbon fiber or composite core conductors and superconductors. (b) “Electric company” means an electric company as defined in ORS 757.600, that owns and operates a transmission system and sells more than 2 million megawatt hours of electricity in a calendar year. (c) “Grid enhancing technology” includes any hardware or software technology that enhances the performance or improves performance efficiency of a transmission system including, but not limited to, dynamic line rating, advanced power flow control technology, topology optimization, advanced reconductoring, flexible alternating current transmission systems or energy storage when used as a transmission resource. (2) The Legislative Assembly declares that it is the policy of this state that electric companies: (a) Meet the required clean energy targets set forth in ORS 469A.410; (b) Develop sufficient resources to meet load growth; (c) Reduce wildfire risk; (d) Create efficiencies and resilience in the transmission system; and (e) Maintain energy affordability. (3) When an electric company files a resource or grid investment plan with the Public Utility Commission proposing additions, improvements or modifications to a transmission system, the commission shall require the electric company to conduct an analysis of alternatives to determine the cost-effectiveness and timetable of multiple strategies, including strategies that use grid enhancing technologies, to: (a) Increase transmission capacity; (b) Increase transmission reliability; (c) Reduce transmission system congestion; (d) Reduce curtailment of renewable and nonemitting energy resources; and (e) Increase capacity to connect new renewable and nonemitting energy resources. (4) An electric company shall file and include as part of the electric company’s clean energy plan required under ORS 469A.415, and the electric company’s integrated resource plan filed with the commission, a separate section that provides a strategic plan for using grid enhancing technologies where doing so is cost-effective. The electric company shall update the strategic plan concurrently with the development of, or update to, each integrated resource plan and make the strategic plan publicly available. At a minimum, the strategic plan must: (a) Include a timeline for deploying grid enhancing technologies where doing so is cost-effective; (b) Report on the electric company’s continual progress toward implementing the strategic plan; and (c) Be designed to: (A) Increase transmission capacity; (B) Increase transmission reliability; (C) Reduce transmission system congestion; (D) Reduce curtailment of renewable and nonemitting energy resources; and (E) Increase capacity to connect new renewable and nonemitting energy resources. (5) For purposes of this section, the commission shall define “cost-effective” and establish criteria for determining where using grid enhancing technologies is cost-effective. [2025 c.391 §1] Sec. 2. An electric company’s first strategic plan filed under section 1 (4) of this 2025 Act [757.808 (4)] shall identify both short-term actions that can reasonably be carried out no later than January 1, 2030, and longer-term actions. [2025 c.391 §2] Sec. 3. The requirements under section 1 of this 2025 Act [757.808] apply to an electric company’s clean energy plan or integrated resource plan that is filed with the Public Utility Commission on or after the effective date of this 2025 Act [September 26, 2025]. [2025 c.391 §3]