Oregonians who are at risk of losing electricity during a heat wave shouldn’t fear disconnection this week and next, due to new state protections barring electric utility companies from disconnecting non-paying customers when the temperatures skyrocket.

From Friday to Tuesday, Portland, other parts of the Willamette Valley, southwest Washington and the Columbia River Gorge will be under an extreme heat warning, with temperatures expected to surge toward 100 degrees.

And those temperatures could be deadly, especially among vulnerable populations or people who lack air conditioning. Last July’s heat waves killed at least 16 Oregonians. During the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome, at least 100 Oregonians died due to the heat .

Electric utility companies are now blocked from disconnec

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