ORS Chapter 469a — Renewable Portfolio

ORS 469a.120. Cost recovery by electric companies. (1) Except as provided in ORS 469A.180 (5), all prudently incurred costs associated with complying with ORS 469A.005 to 469A.210 are recoverable in the rates of an electric company, including interconnection costs, costs associated with using physical or financial assets to integrate, firm or shape renewable energy sources on a firm annual basis to meet retail electricity needs, above-market costs and other costs associated with transmission and delivery of qualifying electricity to retail electricity consumers. (2)(a) The Public Utility Commission shall establish an automatic adjustment clause as defined in ORS 757.210 or another method that allows timely recovery of costs prudently incurred by an electric company to construct or otherwise acquire facilities that generate electricity from renewable energy sources, costs related to associated electricity transmission and costs related to associated energy storage. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the request of any interested person the commission shall conduct a proceeding to establish the terms of the automatic adjustment clause or other method for timely recovery of costs. The commission shall provide parties to the proceeding with the procedural rights described in ORS 756.500 to 756.610, including but not limited to the opportunity to develop an evidentiary record, conduct discovery, introduce evidence, conduct cross-examination and submit written briefs and oral argument. The commission shall issue a written order with findings on the evidentiary record developed in the proceeding. (3)(a) An electric company must file with the commission for approval of a proposed rate change to recover costs under the terms of an automatic adjustment clause or other method for timely recovery of costs established under subsection (2) of this section. As part of an electric companys request for approval under this subsection, the electric company may specify the date or the dates on which the electric company will begin to include in the electric companys rates, in full or in part, the costs recoverable under subsection (2) of this section. The commission may accept or reject the date or dates specified by the electric company. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the request of any interested person the commission shall conduct a proceeding to determine whether to approve a proposed change in rates under the automatic adjustment clause or other method for timely recovery of costs. The commission shall provide parties to the proceeding with the procedural rights described in ORS 756.500 to 756.610, including but not limited to the opportunity to develop an evidentiary record, conduct discovery, introduce evidence, conduct cross-examination and submit written briefs and oral argument. The commission shall issue a written order with findings on the evidentiary record developed in the proceeding. (c) A filing made under this subsection is subject to the commissions authority under ORS 757.215 to suspend a rate, or schedule of rates, for investigation. [2007 c.301 13; 2010 c.79 1; 2016 c.28 11] (Renewable Energy Certificates)