Legislature approves SB 408 - the utility tax bill

It’s been a busy couple of days for SB 408, the bill that CUB helped write and has been strongly supporting to make utilities more accountable for the taxes they collect as part of rates.

On Saturday, July 30, the bill was passed by the Oregon House by a remarkable vote of 54-6.  And earlier today, the Senate agreed to accept the minor amendments made by the House and repassed the bill on a unanimous 30-0 vote.  SB 408 now goes… Full Post >>

Energy Bill and Idaho Power—A Mixed Bag

The news on energy and utility issues is usually a mixed bag and today is certainly no exception. In Washington D.C., the U.S. Senate has just passed the worst Energy Bill in recent history, one that repeals the consumer protections of PUHCA, reneges on renewable investments, and gives away the store to oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power producers. We appreciate the votes in opposition to this bill from Senator Ron Wyden, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Darlene Hooley, Rep. David Wu, and Rep. Peter DeFazio.

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Tax Bill Finally Going to the House Floor

It has been a long and winding road for Senate Bill 408, the utility tax reform bill CUB and others helped write and move through the halls of the Capitol. Finally, however, after several revisions and much political wrangling, it looks as though the bill, which already passed the Senate, will have a floor vote in the Oregon House of Representatives. We expect the vote to occur sometime Saturday.

The Salem Statesman Journal ran this inset to a larger article yesterday: … Full Post >>

Bad Energy Bill on the Move in Congress

Congress is closer than ever to voting on the Energy Bill, in its current incarnation a terrible piece of federal legislation that promotes more oil, gas, coal and even nuclear power than it does renewable energy. And, much to CUB’s dismay, this bill would repeal PUHCA, a crucial law for protecting electric utility company customers. Many organizations are speaking out about it.

We include some other groups’ analysis here, in hopes that CUB members will contact Senators Wyden (503-326-7525 or 202-224-5244)… Full Post >>

Where things now stand with PGE

How can a bankrupt company have that much say over how their assets are distributed?

A CUB member who’s been paying attention to the saga of Portland General Electric in transition sent us the above question, in regard to Enron’s decision to end negotiations with the City of Portland over a purchase of PGE. We thought it was an excellent opening for a general discussion of where things now stand.

Enron Corporation, which purchased PGE back in July 1997 (exactly 8 years… Full Post >>

Wrapping up the options for PGE

Well, there’s been action on many fronts in the past few days, most of it having to do with the future of Portland General Electric. Enron announced the end of discussion with the City of Portland regarding the City’s proposal to purchase PGE. This was a disappointment, since we at CUB felt that public power would have been the best outcome for the customers of PGE. Though this public power bid began as a long shot, through the hard work of many people (including CUB staff),… Full Post >>

Governor Vetoes the Mutual Utility Bill

Governor Kulongoski today used the power of the pen to veto SB 671, the Mutual Utility Bill. CUB has been strongly opposed to the Mutual Utility Bill, and is relieved that this utility model, which left much of its regulation and governance structure unexplained, will not be foisted upon Oregon ratepayers.

We appreciate the Governor’s strong stand for customers and hope that he will look with an equally critical eye upon SB 1008, the Oregon Community Power Bill, another bill which legislators passed, despite… Full Post >>

Politics and the Future of Oregon Community Power

Back at the beginning of the 2005 Legislative Session, CUB was excited about the prospect of a State-led purchase of Portland General Electric. We participated in the development of Oregon Community Power, even helping write the bill, SB 1008. And we think it’s all there: strong structure, responsible ratemaking, good governance.

Unfortunately, existing public power districts, led by the State’s co-ops, opposed federal hydropower benefits for Oregon Community Power. They inserted language into the bill that would take away even existing… Full Post >>

CUB Letter to Governor Asking for Veto of SB 671

Here is the letter we sent to Governor Kulongoski (one of many customer group letters) this week asking him to veto SB 671, the Mutual Utility Bill.

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Oregon House Passes SB 671—CUB Hopes for Governor’s Veto

The Oregon House of Representatives voted late yesterday to pass the business-backed proposal to turn PGE into a “hybrid” utility, the first of its kind. CUB has expressed concern about the bill over the past few months, due in large part to the backers’ inability or unwillingness to answer detailed questions about what input customers would truly have over what is being called (see quote below) a “customer-owned utility.”

Dozens of CUB members responded to our requests last week… Full Post >>

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