§ 757.814 — Creation of acquisition review committee

Oregon § 757.814

• Jurisdiction: Oregon
• Vol.: 19
• Title 57: Utility Regulation
• Ch. 757: Utility Regulation Generally

Text

(1)(a) Except as provided in subsection (9) of this section, the Public Utility Commission shall give notice to the cities and counties specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection whenever the commission receives notice of a proposed transaction under ORS 757.511 (2):
(A) Relating to an investor-owned utility for which approval of the Public Utility Commission is required under ORS chapter 757; and
(B) Involving the sale of 50 percent or more of the voting shares of the utility to a person that is not an affiliated interest with the utility as defined in ORS 757.015.
(b) Notice under subsection (1) of this section shall be given to a city or county if the investor-owned utility that is the subject of the proposed transaction has service territory within the boundaries of the city or county.
(2) Upon receiving notice under subsection (1) of this section, each city or county may appoint a member to an acquisition review committee formed to represent the affected cities and counties. An acquisition review committee must be formed not more than 60 days after notice is given by the commission under subsection (1) of this section. If an acquisition review committee is not formed within 60 days after notice is given by the commission under subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall proceed with any application made under ORS 757.511 for approval of the transaction.
(3) An acquisition review committee formed under this section shall consider a proposed transaction described in subsection (1) of this section for the purpose of determining whether:
(a) Acquisition of the investor-owned utility by Oregon Community Power would be in the best interests of the customers served by the investor-owned utility; and
(b) Acquisition of the utility can be accomplished in a manner that is consistent with the policy described in ORS 757.910.
(4) An acquisition review committee created under this section may decide to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of an investor-owned utility that is the subject of a proposed transaction described in subsection (1) of this section only by the affirmative vote of members of the committee representing counties in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility, and the affirmative vote of members of the committee representing cities in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility. If an acquisition review committee determines that negotiations should commence, the committee shall:
(a) Enter into negotiations with the incumbent utility or persons that have authority to negotiate the disposition of the incumbent utility or the electric utility assets of the incumbent utility; and
(b) If the negotiations result in an agreement between the committee and the incumbent utility or persons described in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the committee shall immediately give notice to the commission and file an application with the commission under ORS 757.511 for approval of the transaction.
(5) An acquisition review committee created under this section may decide to acquire an investor-owned utility under subsection (4) of this section only by the affirmative vote of members of the committee representing counties in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility, and the affirmative vote of members of the committee representing cities in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility. An acquisition review committee may vote to acquire an incumbent utility under this subsection only after public notice and consultation with groups representing customers of the incumbent utility.
(6) An acquisition review committee must complete negotiations and vote to enter into an agreement not more than 150 days after notice is given to cities and counties under subsection (1) of this section. If the incumbent utility agrees in writing, the committee may request that the time limitation imposed by this section be extended by 90 days.
(7) If the commission approves acquisition of the incumbent utility by Oregon Community Power, the commission shall inform the Governor and the Governor shall activate Oregon Community Power by convening an initial Oregon Community Power Board Nominating Committee under section 7, chapter 807, Oregon Laws 2007. As soon as the first board of directors of Oregon Community Power is appointed under ORS 757.834, the board shall implement the agreement and acquire the incumbent utility or the electric utility assets of the incumbent utility in the name of Oregon Community Power.
(8) An acquisition review committee shall give notice to the commission immediately if the committee proposes to dissolve or decides not to enter into negotiations under subsection (4) of this section or if negotiations do not result in an agreement.
(9) The commission may not give notice to cities and counties under subsection (1) of this section if a person providing notice of a proposed transaction under ORS 757.511 (2) also provides to the commission written consent forms signed by persons with authority to act on behalf of counties in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility and on behalf of cities in which reside not less than two-thirds of the customers with billing accounts that are served by the incumbent utility.
(10) An acquisition review committee may enter into an agreement for the acquisition of an incumbent utility or the electric utility assets of the incumbent utility only if the committee obtains approval for the acquisition from the appropriate state agencies in all states in which the incumbent utility serves retail electricity consumers.
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Oregon Community Power is responsible for and shall pay all costs relating to the acquisition of an incumbent utility, including but not limited to:
(a) The costs of acquiring the electric utility assets of the incumbent utility;
(b) The costs of acquiring any necessary generating capacity and transmission capacity dedicated to serving the customers in the service area that will be acquired, including but not limited to electricity generating assets and alternate energy generating assets under construction but not yet in service;
(c) Depreciation;
(d) Loss of revenue to the incumbent utility; and
(e) All electric utility assets necessary to reintegrate the system of the incumbent utility after detaching the portion of the utility acquired by Oregon Community Power.

Legislative History

2007 c.807 §2