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May 27, 2005

Here we go again! MidAmerican Offers for PacifiCorp

More unexpected utility news hit the streets just this week. We had only begun to clear our offices of the mountains of data that went into Texas Pacific's attempted purchase of PGE (which CUB helped to foil), when we heard that a new potential deal was on the table. Warren Buffet's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. has reached an agreement with Scottish Power on an offer for PacifiCorp, Oregon's second-largest electric utility company.

CUB's staff attorney, Jason Eisdorfer, was quoted on the issue in the Oregonian Wednesday: "The [regulatory] process is legally robust and the participants are mature. There's not a whole lot of naivete with regards to this stuff. We're all well-versed." In other words, we're ready to go 'round again. (Read full article here.)

We will look with interest to see what is in MidAmerican's initial offering. However, we already have noted with concern that PUHCA, the Public Utility Holding Company Act, a 70-year-old federal law that prevents corporations from using utility ratepayers as pawns in corporate speculative ventures, is in danger of being repealed. With PUHCA repealed, nothing would deter Buffet from continuing to purchase utility companies and creating a huge mega-utility that could create a risk of catastrophic structural failure for utility customers. And it also has not escaped our attention that lobbyists for Warren Buffet are part of the charge to convince Congress to dismantle PUHCA.

So we will wait and see what his company's offer includes, and we will address it on its merits, looking out for Oregon residential ratepayers.

Posted by Oregon CUB at 03:30 AM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2005

CUB Supports Creating National Energy Consumer Advocate

CUB is happy to announce that creation of a national Energy Consumer Advocate is being considered by the U.S. Senate. The following excerpt of Senator Wyden's news release tells more:

A provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to create a Federal advocate to protect the interests of American energy consumers was included today in the Senate's comprehensive energy legislation. The provision, which would create an independent consumer advocate to be appointed by the Secretary of Energy, is part of the energy bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Wyden offered amendment language to create such an advocate when energy legislation was considered by Congress in 2002, as Oregonians reeled from price spikes and energy market manipulation by Enron. He has long been concerned that wholesale energy transactions, which often occur between and among states, are causing higher electric bills for Americans....

The Oregon Citizens Utility Board (CUB), the state equivalent to the Federal advocate that would be created by the Senate energy legislation, expressed support today for this provision:

"On behalf of utility consumers, the Citizens' Utility Board expresses its appreciation to Senator Wyden for pursuing a customer protection that has long been missing," said Bob Jenks, Executive Director of the Oregon CUB. "One of the lessons of the Western energy crisis is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) operates in a vacuum without a full understanding of its effects on real consumers. Thanks to Senator Wyden's efforts, the utility customer should now have a meaningful voice in FERC proceedings."

Posted by Oregon CUB at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)

May 06, 2005

Senate Passes Oregon Community Power Bill!

The Oregon Senate today approved Senate Bill (SB) 1008 by a 17-7 vote to create Oregon Community Power, a regional, publicly-owned electric utility that could be the answer to what should happen with PGE. CUB has been involved both in asking the questions and finding answers on issues of governance, rate-making responsibilities, power resources, and more. We are happy to see this bill moving forward to the Oregon House. We will continue working with fellow customer groups, bill sponsors and other interested parties to make sure that SB 1008 offers the best solution to create a customer-focused, Oregon-based electric utility that assures long-term stability.

Oh, and don't think we've forgotten about the City of Portland's bid to purchase PGE. Our support has always been for an entity that could successfully manage a public purchase of Oregon's largest electric utility. We continue to search for a way to join the City and State proposals in the best interest of PGE ratepayers. Consumers need to tell their State Representatives in the House to keep SB 1008 moving so that Oregon Community Power can be a real option.

Posted by Oregon CUB at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)

May 04, 2005

Save A Watt

CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks participated in a press conference in April asking Northwest residents to think conservation this summer. Turn off the light. Turn down the air conditioning. It has been a dry year so far in Oregon and should be a hot, dry summer. We were pleased to be there alongside Bonneville Power Administration, PGE, the Energy Trust, and other local organizations dealing in energy production and efficiency making this point: We expect lower water flow this year and higher hydro power costs. Everybody needs to conserve where they can.

One way of starting the ball rolling is to visit the Energy Trust website to use their Online Home Energy Analyzer. The Online Home Energy Analyzer helps customers discover ways to lower energy bills and make the home more comfortable. Energy Trust provides significant cash incentives to offset some of the cost of energy-efficient measures such as high efficiency heat pumps, insulation, high efficiency windows, duct sealing and more.

It takes about 30 minutes to complete the online analysis. When a homeowner enters the account number from a recent energy bill, the Home Energy Analyzer can access the customer's energy usage records, ensuring that the recommendations for measures and projections of energy savings are accurate. Alternately, the tool will use regional averages based on the homeowner's zip code. The analysis for each home can be saved by registering your email address at the website. The information is secure and completely confidential. If a homeowner wants more information on energy saving ideas, the tool provides links to appropriate web pages.

To begin your analysis, collect your account numbers and visit: . www.energytrust.org/analyzer

Best of all, they are offering 4 free Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) for using the Home Energy Analyzer!

When you complete one of the third level, "Find Ways to Save" questionnaires, you will be able to fill out the form and receive your CFLs within 2 weeks. To be eligible for the free CFLs, you must be an Oregon customer of Pacific Power or Portland General Electric. Customers of NW Natural, with a different electric utility, may use the Home Energy Analyzer tool, but will not be qualified to receive the CFLs.

Lower bills, free CFLs, What could be better?

Posted by Oregon CUB at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)