1. (1) The Public Utility Commission shall provide for a comprehensive classification of service for each public utility, and such classification may take into account the quantity used, the time when used, the purpose for which used, the existence of price competition or a service alternative, the services being provided, the conditions of service, differential energy burdens on low-income customers and other economic, social equity or environmental justice factors that affect affordability for certain classes of utility customers, and any other reasonable consideration. Based on such considerations the commission may authorize classifications or schedules of rates applicable to individual customers or groups of customers. The service classifications and schedule forms shall be designed consistently with the requirements of ORS 469.010. Each public utility is required to conform its schedules of rates to such classification. If the commission determines that a tariff filing under ORS 757.205 results in a rate classification primarily related to price competition or a service alternative, the commission, at a minimum, shall consider the following:

   1. (a) Whether the rate generates revenues at least sufficient to cover relevant short and long run costs of the utility during the term of the rates;
   2. (b) Whether the rate generates revenues sufficient to insure that just and reasonable rates are established for remaining customers of the utility;

   3. (c) For electric and natural gas utilities:

      1. (A) Whether it is appropriate to incorporate interruption of service in the utility’s rate agreement with the customer; and
      2. (B) Whether the rate agreement requires the utility to acquire new resources to serve the load; and
   4. (d) For electric utilities, for service to load not previously served, the effect of the rate on the utility’s average system cost through the residential exchange provision of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980, Public Law 96-501, as amended.
2. (2) The commission may prescribe such changes in the form in which the schedules are issued by any public utility as may be found to be expedient. The commission shall adopt rules which allow any person who requests notice of tariff filings described under subsection (1) of this section to receive such notice.

[Amended by 1971 c.655 §72; 1977 c.682 §1; 1987 c.900 §1; 2021 c.90 §2]