The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting a series of workshops on the impacts of COVID-19 on utility customers. The workshop series explored recovery from the pandemic.
View the COVID-19 Impacts Final Report for information about the process and findings.
View the COVID-19 Commission Order (Order No. 20-324) authorizing Parties to enter into Stipulated Agreements.
Link to docket summary for Docket No. UM 2114 - Investigation into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility customers.
Signed Commission Orders
Workshops & Events
UM 2114 Second Division 21 scoping discussion and review of Staff's revised working draft
When: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (PT)
Staff's AR 653 Report (Division 21 Rulemaking)
Meeting Recording
Division 21 Rules 05.11.2022 - MD - No track - Post-04.06.2022
Division 21 Second Supplemental Information - 05.09.2022
Division 21 Rules - 03.23.2022 - MD - No tracks
Division 21 Supplemental Information - 03.22.2022
Joint Advocates’ Initial Comments
Joint Advocates' Second Round of Comments
Joint Advocates' Supplemental Comments to Second Round of Comments
Joint Utilities’ Initial Comments
Joint Utilities' Second Round of Comments
Joint Utilities’ Addition to Second Comments
SBUA’s Initial Comments
SBUA's Comments Following Staff Workshop
Avista – Low-Income Rate Assistance Plans Update
When: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Avista Presentation
NW Natural Gas – Arrearage Management Plan Proposal and Update
When: Friday, March 4, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (PT)
NW Natural Presentation
Cascade Natural Gas – Modified Big Heart Program Presentation – Advice 1367
When: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PT)
UM 2114 Scoping discussion and initial review of Staff’s working draft
When: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (PT)
"Staff Division 21 Working Draft"
Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Disconnect Practices (Paragraph 28) Update
When: Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo)
Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation Staff Update
When: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo)
Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Program Information Session
When: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (PT)
Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Learning Session Presentation
Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Program Poll Results
NW Natural AMP Mid-Point Presentation:
When: Monday, November 1, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM (PT)
NW Natural Presentation
Contact: Natasha Siores, at Natasha.Siores@nwnatural.com
UM 2114 Workshop
When: Thursday, September 30, 2021 from 9:30 am. – 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda -
- 9:30 – 9:35 - Introduction (Mike Dougherty)
- 9:35 – 10:00 - Deferrals to date (Michelle Scala)
- 10:00 – 10:30 - Disconnections and AMPs to date (Utilities, 5 minutes each)
- 10:30 – 11:10 – Discuss the following paragraphs (Keep October 2022, or end early) (Mike Dougherty)
- Paragraph 11 – Reconnect fees
- Paragraph 12 - Late payment fees, interest, and penalties
- Paragraph 13 – Service disconnections and same day reconnections
- Paragraph 16 – Medical Certificate self-certification
- 11:10 – 11:40 – Voluntary Programs (Utilities, 5 minutes each)
- 11:40 – 12:00 – DPP Evaluation (Pacific Power)
- 12:00 – Actions going forward (Mike Dougherty)
Presentations -
Comments -
Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Arrearage Management Plans Update
When: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 from 1:30 pm. – 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Disconnect Practices (Paragraph 28) Update
When: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 10:00 am. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo)
Contact: Ezell Watson
UM 2114 Disconnect Practices Workshop #1 (Paragraph 28)
When: Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 1:00 pm. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Meeting Recording
Agenda
Staff's Presentation
Avista's Presentation
Breakout Room Notes
Joint Advocates letter (Electric utility service and upcoming heatwave)
Utility Response letter (Electric utility service and upcoming heatwave)
Idaho Power's Comments
Joint Utilities Comments
MCOS' Comments
NW Natural's Comments
Joint Stakeholder Comments on Disconnections (September 27, 2021)
Idaho Power Company's Informal Comments in response to Staff's request for comments (October 29, 2021)
Avista's Comments - UM 2114 Staff Memo (October 29, 2021)
NW Natural's response to Staff's request for comments (November 1, 2021)
PacifiCorp's comments in response to Staff's request for comments ((November 8, 2021)
Contact Ezell Watson
Special Public Meeting UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation
When: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PT)
Cascade Natural Gas' 50% Arrearage Management Program Check-in
When: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Third Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)
When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Meeting Recording
Agenda:
- 9:30 Introduction and Housekeeping
- 9:40 Recommendation #2 - Status of AMPs; and any actions to increase the percentage above the 1% of 2019 operating revenue. As it stands, only one utility is forecasting that AMP funds will be exhausted prior to the August 1, 2021, moratorium end date.
- Staff's preface on data and observations based on May data and other updates
- Utility updates on expenditures, effectiveness of AMPs, recommended program changes, and future needs, if any:
- Avista
- Cascade Natural Gas
- NW Natural
- Idaho Power
- PacifiCorp
- PGE
- Group Discussion with CAAs, CBOs, and other stakeholders
- 11:00 Recommendation #3 – Determine “specific characteristics to identify customers that should receive special protection against energy disconnections, and the circumstances under which such protections should be provided." Although the base recommendation goes into specific detail on characteristics, this is a time to further explore what utilities and CAAs are witnessing that may result in an expansion of the base recommendation.
- CAAs, CBOs, and Other Stakeholders Observations and Recommendations
- Utilities Observations and Recommendations
- Group Discussion
Additional resources -
Idaho Power's 50% Arrearage Management Program Check-in
When: Monday, June 21, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Presentation
Meeting Recording
NW Natural ADV 1249/Advice 21-02 Workshop on
Community Outreach for Residential AMP
When: Monday, June 7, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (PT)
Presentation
PacifiCorp's Assistance Plus Program - Interim Program Review
When: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (PT)
Presentation
Special Public Meeting UM 2114 Moratorium Update
When: Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo)
Presentation -
Avista Utilities' Presentation
Second Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)
When: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda:
- Staff's recommendations
- Discussion
- Next Steps
Meeting Recording
PGE Bill Assistance Program (PGE Advice No. 21-01)
When: Monday, May 3, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Meeting Recording
Presentation -
PGE's Presentation (added 5/4/2021)
PGE's Presentation Update to the OPUC from 10/28/2021 (added 11/10/2021)
PacifiCorp - ADV 1247/Advice No. 21-005 Workshop on Targeted Outreach for Residential Bill Assistance Program
When: Monday, April 26, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Presentation -
PacifiCorp COVID BAP Outreach Workshop
Avista Debt Relief Program Overview
When: Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PT)
Presentation -
Avista's OR COVID-19 Debt Relief Program Review
Third Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)
When: Monday, April 12, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Voluntary Program Summary
Presentations -
Avista Customer Outreach Presentation
Cascade Natural Gas' Big HEART Energy Assistance Outreach
Idaho Power's AMP Program and Outreach Update
Idaho Power's Project Share Presentation
UM 2114 Workshop on Energy Trust and Energy Efficiency (Paragraph 31)
When: Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Notes from meeting
Workshop Follow-Up
Workshop materials -
Contact
Anna Kim if you have questions about this meeting
Commission Public Meeting - Residential Debt Relief Programs
When: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 starting at 9:30 a.m. (Expect Residential Debt Relief public hearings to start approximately 10:15) (PT)
Agenda
AMP Summary
Arrearage Management Plan Principles
View the press release announcing Commission approval of debt relief programs for investor-owned utilities.
PGE Debt Relief Program Overview
When: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PGE's Presentation
Commission Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Investigation into the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utility Customers
When: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda - includes link to the meeting and dial-in information
Staff Report (Memo)
CAPO Comments
AVISTA Comments
NW Energy Coalition Comments
CUB's Comments
Joint Utilities Comments
CCC Comments
CEP Comments
Multnomah County Comments
EMO Comments
SBUA Comments
NAYA Comments
Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)
When: Friday, February 12, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (PT)
Agenda:
- Staff's recommendations
- Discussion
- Next Steps
PacifiCorp's Bill Payment Assistance Program
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda:
Second Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)
When: Monday, February 1, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Presentations -
Avista
Cascade Natural Gas
NW Natural
Documents for the meeting -
Customer Eligibility Workshop (Paragraph 33)
When: Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda (revised)
Meeting Recording
Documents for the meeting -
PGE Bill Assistance Workshop
When: Monday, January 11, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Filing
Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)
When: Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Low Income Customer Enrollment (Paragraph 33)
When: Thursday, December 3, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Presentation - Low Income Assistance Programs - OHCS
Presentation - Low Income Bill Assistance Flow Chart - OPUC Staff
Presentation - Low Income Program Gas Utility Catagorial Eligibility - OPUC Staff
Workshop #6
When: Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Commission Workshop
When: Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
COVID-19 Staff Report - DRAFT
Comments:
Workshop #5
When: Thursday, September 3, 2020
Telecom Workshop #2
When: Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Water Utilities Workshop #1
When: Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Workshop #4
When: Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Workshop #3
When: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Presentation - Rate and Regulatory Mechanisms
Presentation - Stakeholder Survey Results
Comments:
Data Workshop #2
When: Thursday, August 6, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Telecom Workshop #1
When: Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (PT)
Format: Microsoft Teams (view the agenda for details)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Workshop #2
When: Thursday, July 16, 2020 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Comments:
Data Workshop
When: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Workshop #1
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 1-5 p.m.
Agenda
Meeting Recording
List of questions discussed at this workshop. Below are responses to these questions submitted in writing:
If you have questions about the workshops, contact Michael Dougherty. If you want to be included on the distribution list, email Mark Brown.