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Commission Trims PacifiCorp Rate Request
September 15, 2006 (2006-16) (UM-179)
Contacts: Lee Beyer, Chairman, 503 378-6611; Ray Baum, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; John Savage, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; Bob Valdez, Public Affairs Specialist, 503 378-8962
Salem, OR –Today the Oregon Public Utility Commission issued a decision that significantly trims PacifiCorp’s general rate request filed with the Commission earlier this year. The Commission is allowing overall rates to go up January 1, 2007 by approximately five percent overall instead of the 13 percent initially requested by the utility.
The decision is the result of a stipulation reached between the various parties to the case in August. The stipulation represents a comprehensive settlement reflecting agreement among all the active parties in the rate case proceeding.
The actual amount will be adjusted this fall based on a final analysis of power costs, but it is capped at $43 million a year. PacifiCorp had asked for $116 million annually.
“After a thorough review of the details, I agree with the consumer advocates and parties that this is a fair rate adjustment,” Commission Chairman Lee Beyer said.
The decision means the average residential customers’ monthly bill will go up from $67 to about $70 based on using a 1000 KWh of energy.
Costs were trimmed from several areas including Operating and Maintenance expenses, Administrative and General expenses, Federal and State Income Taxes, and the company’s authorized rate of return.
As part of the stipulation, PacifiCorp agrees to not file a new general rate revision case in Oregon before September 1, 2007. The case is the first filed by PacifiCorp’s new owners MidAmerican Energy Holding Co.
PacifiCorp serves about 530,040 customers in Oregon.
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Link to Commission order:
http://apps.puc.state.or.us/edockets/orders.asp?ordernumber=06-530
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