People's utility districts, cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities set their own rates, and some smaller telephone and water companies are not regulated or are partially regulated. In addition, some telephone companies file price lists for a limited number of non-basic services. Prices for those services may be changed on short notice. As a utility customer, you are aware of how much you pay each month for your utility services. The Public Utility Commission controls the basic rates that certain electric, gas, telephone and water utilities charge their customers.
Tariffs also contain the terms under which utilities provide service.
Before a regulated utility can change a rate or service, it must first file the change with us. The company's filing needs to contain a clear statement of what it is requesting, the effect the proposed change will have on company revenue, and the reasons for the change. We require the company to fully justify its need if the proposal will result in any increase of revenue. Within15 days of a rate filing that affects all or most of the company's rate schedules, we require the utility to notify its customers of the rate proposal through a newspaper advertisement, an insert in customer billings, or an announcement mailed directly to each customer. Under Oregon law, a regulated utility may file for a rate change at any time.