Your Chance to Speak Out About PGE’s Proposed Rate Increase
Posted on May 2, 2013 by Catriona McCracken
Tags, Public Involvement and Coalitions, Utility Regulation
On Februrary 15, 2013, PGE filed a request with the Public Utility Commission for a 9.3% rate increase for residential customers. PGE already has the highest rates of any utility in the state that serves more than 5,000 customers. CUB is concerned that a rate hike will only make life more difficult for residential customers, who are already struggling.
PGE claims that the need for a rate hike is being driven by higher pension and health care costs for their employees, along with new capital investments in power plants and its distribution system. Additionally, PGE is asking that customers pick up a bigger share of their officer’s bonuses, and that it be allowed to earn a profit margin on the contributions PGE makes to its pension fund.
CUB is analyzing each and every page of the PGE General Rate Case filing (UE 262). We are looking at requests related to pensions, benefits, decommissioning costs of the Boardman coal plant, investments for new capital projects, and expenses related to streamlining PGE’s administration. We are probing and digging, looking for inflated costs, errors in calculations, and things that simply should not be billed to customers. While CUB is just beginning to analyze the PGE rate case, there are some areas that are already troubling us. Asking customers to pay bonuses to officers who have not been able to keep PGE’s rates at the same levels as other utilities in the region just doesn’t seem fair. As for paying the utility a profit on its pension contribution, that would require a fundamental change in how pensions are treated. It would give the company the ability to increase its profits and rates at will by dumping money into its pension fund. Examining PGE’s costs and revenues will be a priority for CUB over the next few weeks. CUB hopes to maintain its record of reducing, and even on occasion entirely eliminating, unnecessary rate hikes.
And while CUB continues to analyze the paper and electronic filings, the Commission needs to hear from you personally about what customers think of these continual requests for rate increases by Portland General Electric. This year it will be easier than ever before to have your opinion heard. Oregon’s Public Utility Commission has scheduled an Open House and Public Comment Meeting at which PGE customers are encouraged to come and voice their opinions in person to the Commission. Your statements will be made part of the record in this rate case. This is a wonderful opportunity for our members to participate. Please join us at the Public Comment Hearing on May 8, 2013.
EVENT: Public Comment Meeting for PGE Rate Case, UE 262
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 2013
TIME: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Open House
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Public Comment Meeting
PLACE: Jefferson High School
Cafeteria
5210 N. Kerby
Portland, OR 97217
If you are not able to attend this meeting but would still like to comment for the record, you may submit written comments by mail or e-mail to the Commission at:
Public Utility Commission of Oregon
Attn: docket UE 262
Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 2148
Salem, OR 97308-2148.
You can also submit comments electronically, or by telephone to: Consumer Services Division 503-378-6600 or 1-800-522-2404.
We hope to see you at Portland’s Jefferson High School on May 8th. CUB will be there—come and talk to us! And consider becoming a CUB member. Your support means we can fight for your interests as rate hikes just like this one come up. Join today to make your voice heard, and follow us through email.
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03/31/17 | 0 Comments | Your Chance to Speak Out About PGE’s Proposed Rate Increase