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Consumer group urges utilities to include PUC consumer‑services contact information on bills
Summary
A consumer advocacy group told the Senate committee that House Bill 3,156 would require utilities to place the Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Services phone number and complaint form link on every utility bill to make complaint processes more accessible.
House Bill 3,156, sponsored by Representative Kate, would direct the Oregon Public Utility Commission to require each public utility to include the PUC Consumer Services phone number and the website address for the Commission’s online complaint form on every utility bill.
Jennifer Hilkhardt, policy and program director for the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB), testified in support. She said CUB represents the interests of Oregon households and fields many member calls about billing and service problems; some callers are unaware the PUC’s Consumer Services Division exists. Hilkhardt said the division helps customers resolve billing errors, answers questions about service and meters, and “can really accelerate getting a remedy.” She described the proposed change as “making the consumer services department information more transparent and accessible,” and she noted surprise that the contact information is not already required on bills.
No state fiscal impact was reported in the committee summary. The committee closed public testimony and scheduled the bill for further consideration.
