Panel hearing on bill to bar utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying and advertising draws supporters and utility opposition; hearing continued

The Senate Energy and Environment Committee on March 3 heard more than three dozen in-person and virtual witnesses on Senate Bill 88, a measure that would limit the costs an electric or gas utility may recover from ratepayers for advertising, political influence activity, litigation penalties and certain compensation, require annual reporting to the Public Utility Commission and allow civil penalties for recovery of unallowable costs.

Proponents — including consumer advocates, environmental groups and community organizations — told the committee that utilities have passed a range of nonessential corporate expenses onto customers and urged legislation to increase transparency and hold investor-owned utilities accountable. Sarah Walkley of the Oregon Citizens' Utility Board told the committee that the bill would shift incentives by imposing penalties greater than the unallowed costs and would reduce the need for advocates to scour lengthy rate-case records to find expenditures that should not be on customer bills. "Senate Bill 88 understands that the customer is not being…