(a) Establish the amount to be collected and rates to be charged by each electric company from its customers, including customers receiving electricity from other sources, such that the forecasted collection by all electric companies in a calendar year is at least $20 million.
(b) Adjust the rates if forecasted collections or actual collections are less than $20 million in any calendar year but shall not otherwise adjust the rates once set.
(c) Ensure that no customer pays more than $500 per month per customer site for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance.
(2) Funds collected by an electric company or Oregon Community Power under this section must be:
(a) Paid into the Housing and Community Services Department Low-Income Electric Bill Payment Assistance Fund established by ORS 456.587 (2);
(b) Used by the Housing and Community Services Department solely for purposes related to low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance and for the Housing and Community Services Department’s cost of administering this section; and
(c) Expended in the service area of the electric company or Oregon Community Power from which the funds are collected.
(3) The Housing and Community Services Department shall determine the manner in which funds collected under this section are allocated by the department to energy assistance program providers for the purpose of providing low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. However, the department shall:
(a) In consultation with electric companies, investigate and may implement alternative delivery models to effectively reduce service disconnections and related costs to customers and electric companies; and
(b) Direct priority assistance to low-income customers who are in danger of having their electricity service disconnected.
(4) The department shall maintain records and provide those records upon request to an electric company, Oregon Community Power and the Citizens’ Utility Board established under ORS chapter 774 on a quarterly basis. Records maintained must include the numbers of low-income customers served, the average amounts paid and the type of assistance provided. Electric companies and Oregon Community Power shall, if requested, provide the department with aggregate data relating to low-income customers served on a quarterly basis to support program development.
(5) Interest on moneys deposited in the Housing and Community Services Department Low-Income Electric Bill Payment Assistance Fund established by ORS 456.587 (2) may be used to provide bill payment and crisis assistance to customers whose primary source of heat is not electricity.
(6) Notwithstanding ORS 757.310, the commission may allow an electric company or Oregon Community Power to provide reduced rates or other bill payment or crisis assistance or low-income program assistance to a low-income household eligible for assistance under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended and in effect on July 23, 1999. [2021 c.536 §2 and 2021 c.547 §15 as amended by 2021 c.536 §2a]
Note: Sections 1, 3 and 4, chapter 536, Oregon Laws 2021, provide:
Sec. 1. Sections 2 [757.698] and 3 of this 2021 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 757. [2021 c.536 §1]
Sec. 3. Rate charges for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. (1) In addition to the funds collected pursuant to section 2 (1) of this 2021 Act [757.698 (1)] and subject to the limitation set forth in section 2 (1)(c) of this 2021 Act, the Public Utility Commission shall provide for, through rates charged to all customers of electric companies, as defined in ORS 757.600, collection of $10 million per calendar year for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance.
(2) Notwithstanding section 2 (1) of this 2021 Act, the rates established by the commission for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance may not be less than the rates in effect on the effective date of this 2021 Act [January 1, 2022].
(3) Notwithstanding section 2 (3) of this 2021 Act, for purposes of the additional amounts collected pursuant to this section, the Housing and Community Services Department shall:
(a) Ensure that the additional amounts collected respond to and are delivered to customers of electric companies who have lost income due to circumstances arising from the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); and
(b) Design delivery of the additional amounts in alignment with existing energy assistance programs but broaden income eligibility and benefit levels such that:
(A) Income eligibility is expanded to households at or below 80 percent of area median income;
(B) Standard household benefit levels may be increased to account for utility arrearages directly related to employment, income or health effects of SARS-CoV-2; and
(C) Persons already enrolled in or receiving state-administered, low-income assistance from programs determined by the department, including but not limited to through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), are automatically eligible for low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance. [2021 c.536 §3]
Sec. 4. Section 3 of this 2021 Act is repealed on January 2, 2024. [2021 c.536 §4]
Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 19 - Utilities, Vehicle Code, Watercraft, Aviation
Chapter 757 - Utility Regulation Generally
Section 757.005 - Definition of public utility.
Section 757.009 - Procedure for reregulation of furnishers of heat.
Section 757.015 - "Affiliated interest" defined for ORS 757.105 (1) and 757.495.
Section 757.035 - Adoption of safety rules and regulations; enforcement.
Section 757.053 - Alternative means for meeting energy conservation requirements.
Section 757.056 - Information on energy conservation to be furnished by certain utilities; rules.
Section 757.061 - Regulation of water utilities; rules.
Section 757.063 - Regulation of associations furnishing water upon petition.
Section 757.068 - Use of fees to make emergency repairs to water service plants.
Section 757.069 - Notice of delinquency on water bill.
Section 757.077 - Incorrect billings; collections; refunds.
Section 757.105 - Filing of budget; rules; review by commission; pensions as operating expenses.
Section 757.110 - Effect of budget orders.
Section 757.120 - Accounts required.
Section 757.135 - Closing accounts and filing balance sheet; rules; auditing accounts.
Section 757.140 - Depreciation accounts; use of certain undepreciated investment in rates.
Section 757.205 - Filing schedules with commission; data filed with schedules.
Section 757.210 - Hearing to establish new schedules; alternative regulation plan.
Section 757.227 - Rate mitigation for certain electric company rate increases.
Section 757.240 - Filing schedules in business office.
Section 757.245 - Establishment of joint rates.
Section 757.247 - Tariff schedules for energy resource measures; rules.
Section 757.250 - Standards and appliances for measuring service; rules.
Section 757.255 - Testing of measuring appliances; rules; fees.
Section 757.262 - Rates to encourage acquisition of cost-effective conservation resources; rules.
Section 757.266 - Rates may encourage tree planting programs as offset to carbon dioxide emissions.
Section 757.270 - Definitions for ORS 757.270 to 757.290.
Section 757.271 - Authorization from pole owner required for attachment.
Section 757.272 - Pole owner may approve or reject attachment.
Section 757.279 - Fixing rates or charges by commission; cost of hearing.
Section 757.282 - Criteria for just and reasonable rate for attachments; rate reduction.
Section 757.310 - Prohibition related to charges for service.
Section 757.315 - When free service or reduced rates allowed.
Section 757.320 - Reducing rates for persons furnishing part of necessary facilities.
Section 757.325 - Undue preferences and prejudices.
Section 757.359 - Infrastructure for vehicles powered by renewable natural gas or hydrogen.
Section 757.360 - Definitions for ORS 757.360 to 757.380.
Section 757.375 - Credit toward compliance with renewable portfolio standard; limits.
Section 757.380 - Applicability of ORS 757.360 to 757.380.
Section 757.385 - Allowance of fair and reasonable rates.
Section 757.386 - Program for procurement of electricity from community solar projects; rules.
Section 757.390 - Legislative findings and declarations.
Section 757.392 - Definitions.
Section 757.394 - Renewable natural gas programs; rules; requirements.
Section 757.410 - When issuance of securities is void.
Section 757.412 - Exemption from securities regulation.
Section 757.415 - Purposes for which securities and notes may be issued; order required.
Section 757.417 - Limitation on application of ORS 757.415.
Section 757.435 - Disposal of proceeds from issuance of securities; rules.
Section 757.450 - Wrongful acts relating to issuance of securities.
Section 757.485 - Purchase of property or stocks of one utility by another.
Section 757.490 - Approval needed for certain contracts.
Section 757.495 - Contracts involving utilities and persons with affiliated interests.
Section 757.522 - Definitions for ORS 757.522 to 757.536.
Section 757.542 - Definitions for ORS 757.542 to 757.562.
Section 757.600 - Definitions for ORS 757.600 to 757.687.
Section 757.607 - Direct access conditions; cost recovery.
Section 757.612 - Requirements for public purpose expenditures; rules.
Section 757.613 - Whole building assessment; investment in energy efficiency.
Section 757.637 - Comparable access to transmission and distribution facilities.
Section 757.642 - Unbundling electricity assets; records.
Section 757.659 - Commission rules; contents.
Section 757.669 - Policy regarding consumer-owned electric utilities.
Section 757.679 - Net billing agreements.
Section 757.695 - Mitigation of energy burdens; costs collection.
Section 757.698 - Low-income electric bill payment and crisis assistance.
Section 757.732 - Definitions for ORS 757.732 to 757.744.
Section 757.734 - Recovery of investment in Klamath River dams.
Section 757.736 - Surcharges for funding costs of removing Klamath River dams; judicial review.
Section 757.738 - Surcharge trust accounts related to removal of Klamath River dams.
Section 757.744 - Disclaimers.
Section 757.746 - Requirements for nongovernmental entities receiving funds.
Section 757.747 - Environmental justice; commission to establish equity metrics.
Section 757.760 - Requirements for notice of termination of service; payment schedules; rules.
Section 757.765 - Public utility provision of shielded outdoor lighting fixtures to customers.
Section 757.800 - Definitions for ORS 757.800 and 757.805.
Section 757.811 - Requirement to consider electricity from ocean renewable energy.
Section 757.812 - Definitions for ORS 757.812 to 757.950.
Section 757.814 - Creation of acquisition review committee.
Section 757.818 - Oregon Community Power created.
Section 757.822 - Laws applicable to Oregon Community Power.
Section 757.824 - Regulatory authority of Public Utility Commission over Oregon Community Power.
Section 757.830 - Nominating committee.
Section 757.834 - Board of directors.
Section 757.842 - Board meetings and procedures.
Section 757.852 - Acquisition of incumbent utility; use of eminent domain.
Section 757.855 - Funding of preliminary activities and negotiations.
Section 757.857 - Oregon Community Power Utility Acquisition Fund.
Section 757.862 - Request to Public Utility Commission for transfer of funds.
Section 757.864 - Conduct of business after acquisition.
Section 757.868 - Oregon Community Power to be successor in interest to incumbent utility; rules.
Section 757.880 - Board duties.
Section 757.883 - Payments in lieu of property taxes.
Section 757.886 - Powers of Oregon Community Power.
Section 757.890 - Eminent domain.
Section 757.897 - Notice of ratemaking; ratemaking hearings.
Section 757.900 - Intervention by Citizens’ Utility Board in proceedings.
Section 757.902 - Annual audit of Oregon Community Power.
Section 757.905 - Adoption of bylaws.
Section 757.915 - Definitions for ORS 757.915 to 757.930.
Section 757.918 - Oregon Community Power required to allow direct access.
Section 757.920 - Rights of electricity service suppliers.
Section 757.922 - Transition credits and charges.
Section 757.924 - Portfolio access to electricity service providers.
Section 757.930 - Distribution rights; service territories.
Section 757.935 - Definitions for ORS 757.935 to 757.945.
Section 757.937 - Financing agreements authorized.
Section 757.940 - Delegation of powers relating to financing agreements.
Section 757.942 - Powers of Oregon Community Power relating to financing agreements.
Section 757.945 - Consultation with State Treasurer.
Section 757.950 - Authorization to issue and sell revenue bonds.
Section 757.954 - City’s authority to control, and collect charges for, use of rights of way.
Section 757.963 - Public utility required to develop wildfire protection plan; rules.
Section 757.966 - Consumer-owned utility required to develop wildfire mitigation plan.
Section 757.968 - Electric utility easement over private land.
Section 757.969 - Municipally owned utility exempt from requirements.
Section 757.991 - Civil penalty for noncompliance with gas regulations.
Section 757.993 - Penalty for violation of utility excavation notification provisions.
Section 757.994 - Civil penalty for violation of statute, rule or order related to water utilities.
Section 757.995 - Civil penalty for violation of wildfire protection provisions or rule.