PacifiCorp
American regulated electric utility serving customers across six western states through the Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power brands.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
PacifiCorp is a privately held American electric utility headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Its regulated utility operations are conducted primarily through two customer-facing businesses: Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. Pacific Power serves communities in Oregon, Washington, and northern California, while Rocky Mountain Power serves Utah, Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho. The company is one of the larger investor-owned utilities in the western United States. Its combined service territory covers approximately 143,000 square miles and includes a mixture of urban, rural, agricultural, commercial, and industrial customers. The two utility businesses collectively serve roughly 1.8 million customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation accounts. PacifiCorp owns and maintains a large regional network comprising long-distance transmission lines, distribution lines, substations, and generating facilities. It also manages wholesale power procurement, electricity trading, and the operation of its generation portfolio. PacifiCorp’s generation fleet has historically relied heavily on coal and natural gas, supplemented by hydroelectricity, renewable resources, and purchased power. Its assets and interests include coal-fired generating stations, natural-gas facilities, hydroelectric plants, wind and other renewable resources, and captive or partly owned coal mines associated with some plants. This legacy has made the company an important participant in debates over coal-plant retirements, carbon emissions, wildfire risk, electricity affordability, and the pace of western grid decarbonization. The company has pursued a long-term transition toward lower-carbon electricity. Its planning materials have contemplated retaining only a small number of coal plants beyond 2040 and sourcing a majority of annual electricity consumption from renewable resources by that year. The precise timetable and resource mix remain subject to regulatory approvals, market conditions, reliability requirements, litigation, and state clean-energy policies. PacifiCorp also operates in areas beyond traditional generation and delivery. These include transmission development, wholesale market participation, customer energy programs, rooftop-solar interconnection and compensation arrangements, and transportation-electrification initiatives. Through programs associated with Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power, the company has supported electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, customer education, and broader electrification efforts. PacifiCorp’s recent public profile has been strongly shaped by legal and regulatory consequences associated with major Oregon wildfires. Plaintiffs have alleged that the utility’s equipment or operating practices contributed to wildfire losses, while the company has faced substantial claims and jury verdicts. These disputes have affected the company’s financial exposure, public reputation, regulatory relationships, and planning for system hardening and wildfire mitigation.
History
PacifiCorp’s roots lie in the consolidation of early electric utilities in the interior Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Pacific Power & Light was created in 1910 through the combination of financially troubled utilities in Oregon and Washington. It subsequently expanded across much of Oregon and into parts of Washington, California, and Wyoming. In 1954, its merger with Mountain States Power Company substantially enlarged its service territory. The 1961 acquisition of California Oregon Power Company extended operations into southern Oregon and northern California. A second important predecessor was Utah Power and Light, organized in 1912 through the merger of four electric companies serving Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The company expanded rapidly by acquiring numerous smaller utilities across the region. Its historical development helped establish the Intermountain utility network that would later be combined with Pacific Power’s operations. PacifiCorp became the name of a holding company in 1984, with Pacific Power serving as its principal utility subsidiary. During the 1970s, the wider organization also had substantial mining interests. In 1977, PacifiCorp separated its coal-mining activities into NERCO, although it retained a majority interest for many years. NERCO became a publicly traded mining company involved in coal, oil, natural gas, precious metals, and uranium before being acquired by Rio Tinto in 1993. In August 1987, PacifiCorp agreed to acquire Utah Power and Light. The transaction was completed in January 1989 and joined the company’s Pacific Northwest and Intermountain operations under one corporate structure. In a 2006 reorganization, the Utah and eastern Wyoming operations were combined with parts of Pacific Power’s Wyoming territory under the Rocky Mountain Power name. Pacific Power continued to represent the company’s regulated utility operations in Oregon, Washington, and California. Scottish Power acquired PacifiCorp in 2001. Five years later, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, then known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings, acquired the company for approximately $5.1 billion in cash. PacifiCorp has operated as a Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary since that transaction. The modern company manages two regulated utility businesses, a substantial transmission and distribution system, generating assets, power procurement, and commercial energy operations. Its historic fleet was built around coal, natural gas, and hydroelectric resources, with renewable generation becoming increasingly important as state policies and corporate planning changed. The company has announced or considered coal retirements and a greater role for renewable electricity, while balancing reliability, affordability, transmission constraints, and regulatory obligations. PacifiCorp has also become involved in customer-side energy programs, including electric-vehicle charging and distributed-energy policies. Its net-metering changes in Utah generated debate over rooftop-solar economics and the treatment of existing and new customers. More recently, litigation arising from Oregon wildfires has become a defining issue for the company. Large jury awards and extensive claims have increased scrutiny of utility wildfire-prevention practices, infrastructure management, insurance arrangements, and the potential costs of climate-related hazards.
- 2006
Berkshire Hathaway Energy acquisition
[1]MidAmerican Energy Holdings, later renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy, acquires PacifiCorp for approximately $5.1 billion in cash.
- 2006
Rocky Mountain Power brand is expanded
[1]A reorganization combines Utah Power operations with central and eastern Wyoming territory under the Rocky Mountain Power identity.
- 2001
Scottish Power acquisition
[1]Scottish Power acquires PacifiCorp.
- 1989
Utah Power and Light merger is completed
[1]The merger agreed in 1987 is completed, combining major Pacific Northwest and Intermountain utility operations.
- 1984
PacifiCorp holding company is established
[1]The organization reorganizes as a holding company headquartered in Portland, with Pacific Power as its principal subsidiary.
- 1977
Coal interests are spun off into NERCO
[1]PacifiCorp separates its coal-mining interests into NERCO while retaining a majority stake for many years.
- 1961
California Oregon Power acquisition
[1]The acquisition extends the company’s regulated utility operations into southern Oregon and northern California.
- 1954
Mountain States Power merger
[1]Pacific Power & Light merges with Mountain States Power Company, substantially expanding its service area.
- 1912
Utah Power and Light is organized
[1]Four electric companies in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming merge to create Utah Power and Light.
- 1910
Pacific Power & Light is formed
[1]Several financially troubled utilities in Oregon and Washington combine to form Pacific Power & Light Company.
Products and positioning
Large western U.S. regulated electric utility with a broad transmission and distribution network and a transition strategy spanning legacy thermal generation, hydroelectricity, and renewable power.
Regulated electric utility
Pacific Power
PacifiCorp’s regulated utility business serving Oregon, Washington, and northern California. Pacific Power provides electricity generation, procurement, transmission, distribution, billing, and customer energy programs across a geographically diverse territory that includes cities, rural communities, agricultural customers, commercial accounts, and industrial users.
Regulated electric utility
Rocky Mountain Power
The regulated utility business serving Utah, Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho. Rocky Mountain Power operates electricity networks and customer programs across the Intermountain West and manages a portfolio that includes thermal, hydroelectric, renewable, and purchased power resources.
Transportation electrification · 2018
Electric-vehicle programs
Utility programs supporting transportation electrification through charging-site development, customer outreach, education, and related electricity-service initiatives. These programs reflect PacifiCorp’s role in expanding electricity demand beyond conventional residential and commercial uses.
Grid infrastructure
Electric transmission and distribution
PacifiCorp owns and operates a large western grid, including long-distance transmission lines, distribution circuits, substations, and associated control infrastructure. The system supports retail service, regional power transfers, wholesale operations, and participation in western electricity markets.
Controversies
2024
Large wildfire-related claims disclosed
PacifiCorp disclosed that it faced at least $46 billion in claims linked to four class-action complaints involving wildfires, making wildfire liability one of the company’s most consequential public controversies.
2023
Litigation over the 2020 Oregon wildfires
A jury ordered PacifiCorp to pay $70 million in punitive damages to 17 homeowners whose properties were affected by the 2020 Oregon wildfires. The litigation alleged that PacifiCorp’s conduct or equipment contributed to wildfire losses.
2020
Pacific Power sued over Oregon wildfires
Three Pacific Northwest law firms filed a class action lawsuit against Pacific Power and its parent company, alleging that they failed to shut down power lines despite dangerous wildfire conditions. The lawsuit also alleges that energized power lines sparked some fires; the article does not report a court determination of those claims.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Transportation electrification initiative
Oregon · Washington · California · Utah · Wyoming · Idaho
PacifiCorp promoted expanded utility involvement in electric transportation, including new charging locations, outreach, and educational efforts.
Outcome. The initiative positioned the utility as an infrastructure and education partner in transportation electrification, although the reference material does not provide a complete program performance assessment.
Brand decisions
2018
Expansion of electric-vehicle programsStrategyBackground
State policy and renewable-energy legislation encouraged utilities to support transportation electrification.
Action taken
PacifiCorp advanced plans for charging sites, customer outreach, and education related to electric vehicles.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened PacifiCorp’s customer-facing role from electricity delivery toward electrification infrastructure and demand development.
2017
Utah net-metering transitionPrice changeBackground
Rocky Mountain Power’s existing Utah net-metering system compensated rooftop-solar customers for exported electricity at the residential retail rate.
Action taken
The utility and Utah regulators agreed to end the old arrangement for new customers and introduce a transitional compensation structure with lower payments than the residential rate.
Aftermath
Existing solar customers received grandfathered treatment, while new rooftop-solar installations reportedly declined after the policy change.
2006
Acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway EnergyM&ABackground
PacifiCorp had been owned by Scottish Power since 2001 before being sold to MidAmerican Energy Holdings, the Berkshire Hathaway energy subsidiary later renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
Action taken
The buyer acquired PacifiCorp in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $5.1 billion.
Aftermath
PacifiCorp became part of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and continued operating its regulated utilities under the Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power brands.
Acquisition value. Approximately $5.1 billion (2006 transaction)
- Planned reduction in coal dependenceStrategy
Background
PacifiCorp’s generation portfolio has historically relied heavily on coal and natural gas, while western states have adopted increasingly stringent clean-energy objectives.
Action taken
The company has planned to keep only three of its 22 coal-fired stations operating beyond 2040 and to obtain 56 percent of annual consumption from renewable energy by that year.
Aftermath
The plan implies substantial changes to generation assets and procurement, subject to reliability needs, regulation, market conditions, and implementation decisions.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Pacific Power sued over Oregon wildfires[3]
Reported:
Three Pacific Northwest law firms filed a class action lawsuit against Pacific Power and its parent company, alleging that they failed to shut down power lines despite dangerous wildfire conditions. The lawsuit also alleges that energized power lines sparked some fires; the article does not report a court determination of those claims.
Zydeco receives Pacific Power Blue Sky Legacy Award[4]
Reported:
Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails was honored with a Legacy Award as a Champion Partner in Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program, recognizing its long-term support of renewable energy.
Oregon PUC reduces Pacific Power opt-out meter-reading fees[5]
Reported:
The Oregon Public Utility Commission decided to reduce Pacific Power meter-reading fees for customers who opted out of smart meters: the monthly-reading fee was cut from $36 to $10, and the triannual option from $9 to $3 per month. The changes were stated to take effect Wednesday.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources7 sources
- 1PacifiCorpen.wikipedia.org
- 2Berkshire Hathaway Energybrkenergy.com
- 3Pacific Power sued over Oregon wildfiressandiegouniontribune.com
- 4Zydeco获得Pacific Power Blue Sky Legacy Awardktvz.com
- 5俄勒冈州公用事业委员会下调Pacific Power智能电表退出用户抄表费ktvz.com
- 6Oregon utility sued over damage from the devastating wildfire that burned 470 homes and left 8 people deadkrdo.com
- 7Pacific Power utility sued over devastating Oregon wildfiresdailymail.com
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