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PUC approves PGE rate increase |
By David Sale, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail David at
dsale@eaglenewspapers.com
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The Oregon Public Utility
Commission has approved a request from Portland General Electric —
as well as fellow privately-owned utility companies PacifiCorp and
Idaho Power — to raise rates by 13 percent.
The increase comes in response to the Bonneville Power
Administration’s recent decision to suspend its benefit payments to
these and other private utility companies, which passed them along
to consumers as a rebate.
“This is a distasteful thing to be forced to do,” said PUC chairman
Lee Beyer in a press release announcing the decision.
“Unfortunately, BPA’s decision to cut off customers of private
utilities from the benefits of the Columbia River hydro system made
this action necessary.
The purpose of the program is to bring about rate parity between
customers of private utility firms and public utility districts.
However, the PUDs successfully argued in federal court that the BPA
was overpaying private utilities, forcing them to suspend payments
until a new agreement could be reached.
The benefit payment suspension was enacted for residential and
small farm consumers. Commercial and industrial ratepayers will not
be affected by the increase.
The increase takes effect June 1. A typical PGE monthly bill is
expected to increase by around $10.66, and a PacifiCorp bill by
$9.62, based on average use patterns.
“We remain hopeful this action will be temporary and benefits will
be restored in the near future,” Beyer said.
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Published
June 2, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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