|
||||
|
Last Updated: April 2007
12/02: A report issued by the Oregon Public Utilities Commission stated that residential customers would not benefit from retail competition at this time.
Source: Oregon Public Utilities Commission
http://www.puc.state.or.us/PUC/news/2002/2002_036.shtml
11/02: According to an Oregon Public Utility Commission press release, the Commission approved a request by Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities (ICNU) to implement a five-year plan for large commercial and industrial customers of Portland General Electric with an hourly demand of 1 MW or more to choose their own electric supplier. These customers would be required “to pay a fixed transition charge.” Despite having the opportunity to choose their own supplier since March 1, 2002, eligible customers had been discouraged by variable transition charges. The customers who chose this option would “give up receiving the standard cost-of-service rate for at least five years.” However, under the request, if they gave two years notice they “could switch to any PGE option available to new customers for service after 2007.” Eligible customers had until November 8, 2002 to decide.
06/02: The Oregon PUC issued its monthly status report for June 2002 that tracked what portfolio options residential customers had chosen based on service territory. Also the report tracked what percentage of nonresidential customers had chosen cost of service, market options or direct access based on load. No nonresidential customers had chosen direct access as of June 1, 2002. Nonresidential customers were the only customers allowed to choose a certified electricity service supplier at that time.
03/02: According to Oregon's electric restructuring law, commercial and industrial customers of Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp would be eligible for direct access (the ability to purchase power from a certified Electricity Service Supplier) on March 1, 2002. In the event that an ESS pulls the plug on non-residential customers, PGE and PacifiCorp would provide default service. Residential customers were not eligible for direct access, but they would have "a portfolio of energy options to choose from including electricity from a variety of renewable energy resources." The 12-member portfolio advisory committee recommended the options to the Public Utility Commission. PGE and PacifiCorp would continue to offer their renewable energy products, "Blue Sky" and "Clean Wind." All Oregon electric customers had the option to retain "cost-of-service" based rates, but all customers would be assessed "a 3 percent public purpose charge...to fund and encourage energy conservation and development of renewable energy." According to the PUC approved grant agreement, the Energy Trust of Oregon would administer funds collected for conservation and renewable energy. The Oregon Housing and Community Services Agency would continue to collect "a low-income bill assistance fee" from Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp customers.
08/01: Legislation, House Bill 3633, was enacted to revise Oregon's restructuring law. Act 3633 delayed the date for implementing retail access for large customers from October 2001 to March 2002. Most other provisions of Oregon's plans for restructuring were also delayed 6 months to March 2002, including offering a portfolio of rate options to residential customers, the collection of public purpose funds, and the requirement for utilities to unbundle the costs of generation, transmission, distribution, ancillary services, customer services, public purpose programs, and taxes. An exception was made to allow collection of funds for low income assistance programs, which were scheduled to begin in October 2001.
08/01: House Bill 3502 was enacted. The legislation amended the power of the Public Utility Commission to not only obtain fair and reasonable rates, but also to balance the interests of the utility investor and the consumer in establishing fair and reasonable rates. Fair and reasonable rates were defined as those that provide adequate revenue for both operating expenses and capital costs, with a return to the equity holder that was commensurate with the return on investment in other enterprises of similar risk and sufficient to ensure confidence in the utility's financial integrity.
09/00: The Oregon Public Utilities Commission (PUC) passed the first set of rules governing electricity restructuring in Oregon. Beginning October 1, 2001, large commercial and industrial customers were scheduled to have the opportunity to choose alternative suppliers. Small commercial and residential customers would continue to be regulated. Electric utilities are required to file resource plans by November 1, 2000. The plans must identify what aspects of their businesses would remain regulated to serve residential and small commercial customers.
07/99: The restructuring bill, Senate Bill 1149, was signed by the governor. The bill was somewhat different from the other States that passed restructuring legislation in that residential consumers would not have retail access, but would be offered a choice of pricing plans by the utilities and regulated by the PUC. The bill allowed the PUC to suspend restructuring if it jeopardized access to low-cost power from BPA, and it allowed municipals to choose whether or not to participate. The bill imposed a 3 percent public benefits charge for energy conservation and low-income programs on consumers. Residential consumers were offered a portfolio of options, including market-based prices, rate-regulated prices, and green prices for energy, while businesses and industrials would have retail access beginning October 1, 2001. The PUC was given authority to determine stranded costs. Another provision allowed the governor to appoint the chair of the PUC and remove commissioners for cause, and a net metering law for customer-installed generators less than 25kW (and limited customer generators to one half of one percent of the utility's single-hour peak). The bill affected consumers of IOU's in the State (Pacificorp and Portland General Electric).
07/98: Pacific Power filed a proposal with the PUC for a “portfolio” pilot program for residential and small commercial consumers and direct access for large industrial consumers.
07/98: Portland General Electric’s pilot program involving four Oregon cities would end as the two participating energy companies, Enron and Electric Lite, both discontinued marketing to consumers.
02/98: Portland General Electric's deregulation plan faced opposition from The Oregon Intervener Coalition that included Pacificorp, Washington Water Power, and consumer groups. Portland's plan called for selling all its generation and allowing all customers to choose competitive generation suppliers. The coalition preferred a "portfolio model" for customer choice. The portfolio model would have allowed large industrial customers to shop for power suppliers, but small customers would continue to be served by the incumbent utilities and be offered a menu of plans to choose from. Options would include current, market, or "green" rates.
01/98: Pacificorp filed a pilot program plan for residential and small commercial customers in Klamath County, Oregon. The pilot program would allow customers to select from a “portfolio” of pricing options for electricity and would go through June 1999. Another proposed pilot program would allow schools and customers with demands greater than 5 MW in Pacificorp’s service territory to choose alternative generation suppliers for up to 50 percent of their load. Additionally, all of their large customers in Klamath County would be allowed retail access.
10/97: PUC approved Portland General Electric pilot program which could have allowed 50,000 customers in four cities to choose alternative generation suppliers. Large industrial customers would begin to choose immediately, and residential customers by December 1997.