In September 2025, PacifiCorp—parent company of Pacific Power, which serves much of southern Oregon—filed an emergency motion warning that its wildfire liability cases could threaten its ability to keep operating.
The utility faces hundreds of lawsuits from Oregon homeowners and businesses whose properties were destroyed during the 2020 wildfires. The company says that a schedule of dozens of jury trials over the next 2½ years is “impossible” and could impose crushing financial burdens.
As of mid‐2025, PacifiCorp has already paid over $1 billion in settlements, and estimates its probable losses from the 2020 fires at about $2.7 billion.
To manage wildfire risk, Oregon requires utilities to submit annual wildfire mitigation plans. Pacific Power has invested in wildfire monitoring centers, increased inspections, de‐energization protocols during high fire risk, and other preventive strategies.
Meanwhile, the Oregon legislature is considering bills (HB 3666 and HB 3917 among them) that would grant utilities “wildfire safety certificates” if their mitigation plans are approved, and possibly establish wildfire catastrophe funds, to help buffer utilities from catastrophic liabilities.
Oregon Capital Chronicle
What Southern Oregon Might Face If PacifiCorp Becomes Financially Unsustainable
If PacifiCorp (Pacific Power) could not financially survive the ongoing and projected wildfire liabilities, the consequences for southern Oregon could be serious. Here are some possible outcomes:
Rate increases or cost shifting. The utility may try to recoup litigation and mitigation costs through higher power rates, additional fees, or changes in rate structures. This could especially impact homeowners already tight on electricity budgets, and rural customers for whom power costs are a larger share of income. Already, some legislative proposals aim to allow utilities to raise rates to fund these liabilities or safety certificates.
Reduced investment or deferred maintenance. Facing financial pressure, PacifiCorp might postpone investments in infrastructure, wildfire mitigation (e.g. forest clearing, transmission line upgrades), or even delay replacing risky equipment. This could increase fire risk over time or lead to more frequent outages, especially under extreme weather conditions.
Service disruption risk. If liabilities forced a partial shutdown, bankruptcy, or sale, there could be disruptions in electric service, slower response to emergencies, or uncertainty about who takes over. Customers might see less reliability, longer times for power restoration during storms or wildfires.
Regulatory or state takeover. In a worst‐case scenario, the state of Oregon (or Public Utility Commission) might intervene. That could involve placing the utility under special oversight, reorganizing its debt, or possibly considering alternative ownership models (public power or a cooperative), though such transitions are long, complex, and politically and legally challenging.
Why Solar Makes Sense Now
This growing risk highlights why solar power—and solar combined with battery storage—is increasingly appealing for homeowners in southern Oregon. If your home generates more of its own power:
- You hedge against rate hikes. Even if utility costs rise, your solar offset means you’re less exposed.
- You increase resilience. During outage events (due to wildfire risk, maintenance, or other trouble), a solar + storage system can keep at least essential circuits running.
- You gain long‐term savings. With net metering (especially Oregon’s favorable 1:1 policy), solar overproduction during good days can be banked to use later, helping reduce dependency on the grid.
At Sunshine Solar, we design systems with reliability, safety, and long‐term value top of mind. Given the financial and operational risks PacifiCorp is facing from wildfire lawsuits, going solar is not just environmentally smart—it’s also a sound strategy for households seeking to take control of their electric bill to achieve greater energy security.
