CUB Contributes to Stronger Portland Utility Oversight
Posted on June 12, 2015 by Jeff Bissonnette
Tags, Water/Wastewater
CUB’s Janice Thompson provided key testimony at City Hall in support of an ordinance creating the new Public Utility Board (PUB) that was adopted unanimously by the City Council on Wednesday June 10th.
Janice was an influential member of the Utility Oversight Blue Ribbon Commission, created by Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Nick Fish to improve transparency and oversight over Portland’s utility bureaus. Its major recommendations include establishment of the PUB as a key component of Janice’s advocacy on the Blue Ribbon Commission for a three-pronged utility oversight approach:
- Replace three currently weak oversight committees with one group (the PUB) that will have dedicated staff so it won’t have to rely on analysis by the utility bureaus it is monitoring. The PUB will also have a broad scope, including review of big construction projects that are the major drivers of utility rate increases.
- The City Council must integrate the PUB into all steps of its budget process and adopt other new standards to ensure that this new oversight group is not ignored.
- CUB should continue as residential ratepayer advocate, providing analysis from outside City Hall. CUB is not paid by the city and our work is independent because we rely on membership support.
These recommendations reflect critical elements of effective utility oversight that are comparable to the three legs of a stool. For too long, the Portland utility oversight “stool” only had two legs and they were not in great shape. The internal city oversight process leg of the stool was weak. The City Council leg of the stool wasn’t listening. The third leg – independent analysis and comprehensive advocacy from outside City Hall – had been missing, but CUB began playing this role last year.
After initial testimony and discussion last week, the City Council established the new internal oversight group that significantly improves the current weak leg of the oversight stool. CUB supported this City Council action and applauds Janice’s advocacy at the Blue Ribbon Commission that carried into her strong testimony at City Hall. You can read Janice’s testimony here.
A major point is that CUB will continue being the watchdog over the City Council and keep an eye on the new PUB. Follow this and other City water and sewer news here!
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05/01/17 | 0 Comments | CUB Contributes to Stronger Portland Utility Oversight