Oregon Public Utility Commission
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current commissioners are Susan Ackerman and John Savage.
Authority
The Oregon Public Utility Commission is established in Chapter 756 of the Oregon Statutes.
756.014:
| Public Utility Commission; appointment; confirmation; term; removal. There is created the Public Utility Commission of Oregon. The commission shall be composed of three members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate pursuant to section 4, Article III of the Oregon Constitution. No more than two of such members shall be of the same political party. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications to hold this office.
Appointments
The commissioners are all appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the state senate, pursuant to Section 4, Article III of the Oregon Constitution. Each commissioner serves a term of four years and holds office until a successor has been appointed and qualified.[1]
Vacancies
Chapter 756 of the Oregon Statutes stipulates that any vacancy in the office of commissioner shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment, with the appointee serving the remainder of the unexpired term.[1]
Duties
The mission of the commission is to "ensure that safe and reliable utility services are provided to consumers at just and reasonable rates while fostering the use of competitive markets to achieve these objectives."[2] The commission regulates customer rates and services of the state's investor-owned
- electric utilities
- natural gas utilities
- telephone utilities
- certain water companies
The commission DOES NOT regulate:
- people's utility districts
- cooperatives or munipally-owned utilities
The official duties of the commission are outlined in Chapter 756 of the Oregon statutes:[1]
- 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.
- 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.
- balance the interests of the utility investor and the consumer in establishing fair and reasonable rates.
Divisions
The Oregon Public Utility Commission is divided into several sections:
- Utility Program
- Residential Service Protection Fund
- Consumer Services
- Administration Hearings Division
Compensation
In 2010, the Oregon Commissioner Public Utility Commissioners were paid an estimated $143,136 each according to the Council of State Governments.[3]
Contact information
Public Utility Commission of Oregon
550 Capitol St. NE, Suite 215
Salem, OR 97308-2551
E-mail contacts:
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oregon Statutes, "Chapter 756.014: Public Utility Commission; appointment; confirmation; term; removal," accessed October 6, 2011
- ↑ Puc.state.OR.us, "Public Utility Commission: About us," accessed October 6, 2011
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved April 24, 2011
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