ORS 756.310
Annual fees payable by utilities and telecommunications providers


(1)

Subject to the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of this section, each public utility and telecommunications provider shall pay a fee to the Public Utility Commission in each calendar year. The amount of the fee shall equal the amount that the commission finds and determines to be necessary, together with the amount of all other fees paid or payable to the commission by such public utilities and telecommunications providers in the current calendar year, to defray the costs of performing the duties imposed by law upon the commission with respect to the public utilities and telecommunications providers.

(2)

In each calendar year the percentage rate of the fee required to be paid by public utilities shall be determined by orders entered by the commission on or after March 1 of each year. Notice of the orders shall be given to each utility. The utility shall pay to the commission the fee or portion thereof so computed upon the date specified in the notice. The date of payment shall be at least 15 days after the date of mailing of the notice.

(3)

The fee payable under subsection (1) of this section by each public utility may not be less than $10, or more than forty-five hundredths of one percent of the utility’s gross operating revenues derived within this state in the preceding calendar year. For the purpose of this subsection, the gross operating revenues of an electric company do not include revenues from sales of power for resale to the extent that the revenues from those sales exceed an amount equal to 25 percent of the total revenues received by the electric company from sales of electricity to end users in the preceding calendar year.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

For a telecommunications provider, the fee payable under subsection (1) of this section shall be a percentage amount not to exceed thirty-five hundredths of one percent of the provider’s gross retail intrastate revenue for each calendar year, but may not be less than $100. The percentage amount shall be determined by order of the commission not less than 60 days prior to the calendar year upon which the fee is based. The fee shall be payable to the commission not later than April 1 of the year following that calendar year.

(b)

A telecommunications provider shall collect the fee payable under subsection (1) of this section by charging an apportioned amount to each of the provider’s retail customers. The amount of the charge shall be described on the retail customer’s bill in a manner determined by the provider.

(c)

In the event a telecommunications utility has an approved rate that includes the fee required under subsection (1) of this section and separately charges retail customers for the fee described in this section, at the time the utility begins collecting the charge the utility shall file with the commission a rate schedule reducing rates in an amount projected to equal the amount separately charged to customers.

(5)

The commission may use any of its investigatory and enforcement powers provided under this chapter for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this section.

(6)

As used in this section:

(a)

“Electric company” means any entity that is a public utility under ORS 757.005 (Definition of public utility) that is engaged in the business of distributing electricity to retail electric customers in Oregon.

(b)

“Retail customer” does not include a purchaser of intrastate telecommunications services who is a telecommunications provider, telecommunications cooperative, interexchange carrier or radio common carrier.

(c)

“Telecommunications provider” means any entity that is a telecommunications utility or a competitive telecommunications provider as defined in ORS 759.005 (Definitions). [Amended by 1953 c.10 §2; 1957 c.464 §1; 1959 c.355 §1; 1961 c.109 §1; 1963 c.89 §1; 1971 c.132 §1; 1973 c.170 §1; 1975 c.127 §1; 1985 c.293 §1; 1987 c.439 §1; 1987 c.447 §88; 1991 c.841 §2; 1995 c.733 §65; 1997 c.826 §8; 1999 c.339 §1; 2007 c.245 §1; 2015 c.289 §1; 2019 c.173 §1]

Source: Section 756.310 — Annual fees payable by utilities and telecommunications providers, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors756.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Assessment imposed by this section is not prohibited by Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act. Union Pacific Railroad Co. v. Public Utility Commission of Oregon, 899 F2d 854 (9th Cir. 1990)

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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