ORS 756.040
General powers


(1)

In addition to the powers and duties now or hereafter transferred to or vested in the Public Utility Commission, the commission shall represent the customers of any public utility or telecommunications utility and the public generally in all controversies respecting rates, valuations, service and all matters of which the commission has jurisdiction. In respect thereof the commission shall make use of the jurisdiction and powers of the office to protect such customers, and the public generally, from unjust and unreasonable exactions and practices and to obtain for them adequate service at fair and reasonable rates. The commission shall balance the interests of the utility investor and the consumer in establishing fair and reasonable rates. Rates are fair and reasonable for the purposes of this subsection if the rates provide adequate revenue both for operating expenses of the public utility or telecommunications utility and for capital costs of the utility, with a return to the equity holder that is:

(a)

Commensurate with the return on investments in other enterprises having corresponding risks; and

(b)

Sufficient to ensure confidence in the financial integrity of the utility, allowing the utility to maintain its credit and attract capital.

(2)

The commission is vested with power and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate every public utility and telecommunications utility in this state, and to do all things necessary and convenient in the exercise of such power and jurisdiction.

(3)

The commission may participate in any proceeding before any public officer, commission or body of the United States or any state for the purpose of representing the public generally and the customers of the services of any public utility or telecommunications utility operating or providing service to or within this state.

(4)

The commission may make joint investigations, hold joint hearings within or without this state and issue concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with any official, board, commission or agency of any state or of the United States. [Amended by 1961 c.467 §1; 1971 c.655 §9; 1973 c.776 §15; 1987 c.447 §76; 1995 c.733 §53; 2001 c.569 §1]

Source: Section 756.040 — General powers, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors756.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Where (1) a utility has purchased the bulk of its necessary equipment and supplies from an “affiliated” manufacturer and (2) due to the affiliated relationship the manufacturer has unique market power rendering a comparison of its prices and profits with those of “peripheral” manufacturers inadequate as a measure of “reasonableness” of the utility’s payments to it, the utility’s failure to provide additional evidence of reasonableness may justify disallowing from the utility’s rate base and operating expenses the portion of the utility’s payments that represent a return to the manufacturer greater than that allowed the utility itself. Pac. NW Bell Tel. Co. v. Sabin, 21 Or App 200, 534 P2d 984 (1975), Sup Ct review denied

Public Utility Commissioner has power under this section to determine unwarranted rate discrimination. American Can Co. v. Davis, 28 Or App 207, 559 P2d 898 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

The Public Utility Commissioner has authority to impose rate design different from that proposed by utility. Cascade Natural Gas Corp. v. Davis, 28 Or App 621, 560 P2d 301 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

Commissioner has been granted broad legislative authority; consequently commissioner is not obligated to employ any single formula or combination of formulas to determine what are in each case “just and reasonable” rates. Cascade Natural Gas Corp. v. Davis, 28 Or App 621, 560 P2d 301 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

Where disallowances neither violated specific statutory limits upon commissioner’s otherwise plenary ratemaking power nor resulted in imposition of rates that produce taking of private property without just compensation, they were reasonable and lawful. Cascade Natural Gas Corp. v. Davis, 28 Or App 621, 560 P2d 301 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

Approval of contract between utility and “affiliated” manufacturer or of utility’s annual budgets that included payments thereunder did not “estop” commissioner from disallowing portion of payments in determining “just and reasonable” rates. Cascade Natural Gas Corp. v. Davis, 28 Or App 621, 560 P2d 301 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

Public Utility Commissioner’s rule, which passed on utility expenses for payment of county’s net business income tax to county ratepayers only, rather than to all utility ratepayers, was valid because Commissioner is granted both broad regulatory authority over rates by this section and broad rulemaking authority by ORS 756.060. Multnomah County v. Davis, 35 Or App 521, 581 P2d 968 (1978), Sup Ct review denied

This section does not constitute clearly defined statutory grant of authority to Public Utility Commissioner for enactment of “tagline” rule which requires public utilities to tag their advertisements with statement that advertisement is paid for by either customers or stockholders. Pacific Northwest Bell v. Davis, 43 Or App 999, 608 P2d 547 (1979), Sup Ct review denied

Where telecommunications utility retained excess revenue collected under interim rate schedule that was not in compliance with authorized revenue level, PUC did not err in ordering refund. Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Co. v. Katz, 116 Or App 302, 841 P2d 652 (1992), Sup Ct review denied

756.010
Definitions
756.014
Public Utility Commission
756.016
Quorum
756.022
Oath of office
756.026
Prohibited interests of commissioner and family
756.028
Employee statements regarding prohibited interests
756.032
Employee dismissal for retention of prohibited interests or failure to file statements
756.034
Intent of prohibited interest provisions
756.036
Duties and functions
756.037
Commission authority to provide assistance, information, resources and advice to Legislative Assembly
756.040
General powers
756.045
Employing legal counsel
756.047
Authority of commission to require fingerprints
756.050
Office, office supplies and sessions of commission
756.055
Delegation of authority
756.060
Authority to adopt rules and regulations
756.062
Substantial compliance with laws adequate for commission activities
756.068
Service of notice or other legal process
756.070
Investigating management of utilities
756.075
Right of entry for examination of equipment, records or employees
756.090
Maintaining and producing records
756.105
Duty to furnish information to commission
756.115
Failure to furnish requested information
756.125
Interference with commission equipment
756.160
Enforcement of statutes and ordinances relating to utilities
756.180
Enforcing utility laws
756.185
Right to recover for wrongs and omissions
756.200
Effect of utility laws on common law and other statutory rights of action, duties and liabilities
756.305
Public Utility Commission Account
756.310
Annual fees payable by utilities and telecommunications providers
756.320
Statements accompanying fees
756.325
Distribution of information filed with commission
756.350
Penalty for failure to pay fees
756.360
Disposal and use of fees and penalties collected
756.450
Declaratory rulings
756.500
Complaint
756.512
Notice of complaint to defendant
756.515
Investigations and hearings on commission’s own motion
756.518
Procedures applicable to all matters before commission
756.521
Public hearings
756.525
Parties to proceedings
756.528
Segregation of issues
756.534
Place of hearings
756.538
Taking and use of depositions
756.543
Issuance of subpoenas
756.549
Self-incrimination of witnesses in commission proceedings
756.552
Self-incrimination of witnesses in court proceedings
756.555
Powers of commission at hearings
756.558
Taking of evidence
756.561
Rehearing
756.565
Prima facie effect of commission actions
756.568
Rescission, suspension and amendment of orders
756.572
Effect of orders on successors in interest
756.575
Notice of acceptance of terms of orders
756.610
Judicial review
756.990
Penalties
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