PacifiCorp proposes rate increase, public invited to comment

Published 7:00 am Monday, May 23, 2022

SALEM — Utility provider PacifiCorp has proposed a 6.8% increase in its rates. In Oregon, that means Pacific Power customers could see their electric bills go up next year.

The agency responsible for overseeing utility costs in the state, the Oregon Public Utility Commission, is hosting a virtual public comment hearing Tuesday, May 24.

“Technically your utilities are a monopoly,” commission spokesperson Kandi Young said. “When you move into a home, you don’t have a choice of what electric service provider you get or what natural gas provider you get. The Public Utility Commission is that protector of the customer in ensuring that you’re getting safe, reliable service at a reasonable rate.”

The hearing is part of a nearly year-long review of the rate increase proposal. The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers and other agencies will aid in the investigation on behalf of customers.

Citizens Utility Board President Bob Jenks said the public hearing is part of the review process. The board will take comments into consideration when it decides whether to grant the PacifiCorp request.

“This is a chance for customers to come in and weigh in on whether they think that’s justified or not,” Jenks said.

PacifiCorp, which is owned by multinational conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway, identified several factors driving the rate increase. These included a plan to close coal plants and transition to more renewable sources of energy, particularly the TB Flats wind energy project. PacifiCorp also pointed to increased costs associated with its vegetation management programs and expansion of its wildfire mitigation programs, as well as inflation and changes to its capital structures.

But Jenks said the utility board is not convinced all the reasons for the increase are justified.

“Raising rates on Oregonians to send more money to Berkshire, we don’t think has any justification right now, particularly in the context of this kind of big rate hike being proposed,” Jenks said.

The proposed increase would have consumers paying about $84.4 million more. The rate increase would impact customer rates differently depending on usage and customer type: residential, business or industrial customers. For example, a residential customer, using the average amount of energy for a single-family home currently has a bill of a little less than $100. They would see around $13 added to their monthly bill.

The meeting May 24 starts at 6 p.m. The investigation concludes in December when the commissioners rule on the request. New rates, if approved, are expected to go into effect on Jan. 1.

Pacific Power customers and others may participate in the public comment hearing to provide verbal comments to the Public Utility Commission and the administrative law judge presiding over this rate case.

Spanish translation services are available at no cost. For those individuals needing translation services, log into the Zoom platform and select English or Spanish on the bottom of the page. Translation services are not available for the meeting phone-in option.

When: Tuesday, May 24, 6 – 7 p.m.

Call-in: 971-247-1195; meeting ID: 823 8399 1218; passcode: 4884093995.

English and Spanish: To participate using Zoom, go to bit.ly/3LEH8S1.

English: To participate by phone, call 971-247-1195; meeting ID is 823 8399 1218; passcode is 4884093995.

Those unable to participate during the virtual public comment hearing may submit comments through June 22 in the following ways:

By email to PUC.PublicComments@puc.oregon.gov.

By calling 503-378-6600 or 800-522-2404 (all relay calls accepted, Spanish translation services available).

By mail to Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: AHD – UE 399, P.O. Box 1088, Salem, OR 97308-1088.