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Bill would require Public Utility Commission contact info on every utility bill
Summary
House Bill 3,156 (with -1 amendment) would require utilities to print the Public Utility Commission's consumer complaint phone number and a short URL to the online complaint form on all physical and digital utility bills; supporters said the change would improve consumer awareness and PUC oversight.
House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection members opened a public hearing March 27 on House Bill 3,156, a measure that would require public utilities to include the Public Utility Commission's consumer service phone number and a shortened URL for the commission's online complaint form at the bottom of each utility bill.
Supporters said the requirement is a low-cost way to improve awareness of the complaint process and help the PUC get a more accurate picture of how utilities are serving customers.
"This bill takes a simple yet meaningful step towards improving consumer awareness of the Public Utility Commission's complaint process by requiring that information on how to file a complaint be printed on all utility bills," said Connor Booth, testifying on behalf of Representative Jamie Kate. Booth noted the change would apply to both physical and digital bills. "This includes a shortened URL of the online complaint form at the bottom of every physical and digital utility bill as well as a phone number to the PUC's complaint division to ensure broader public knowledge of its existence when there is an unresolved dispute between an individual and their utility provider."
Jennifer Hillhart of the Oregon Citizens' Utility Board also testified in support, saying, "Giving customers the information on how they can make complaints about the utility makes sense," and urged the committee to pass the measure.
No opponents were signed up to speak in the committee hearing; the committee closed the public hearing after those two witnesses. The bill as presented contains a dash-1 amendment that replaces the measure text to require the PUC to mandate the printed contact information on utility bills.
If enacted, the law would increase direct visibility of PUC complaint channels on customer bills; witnesses said the requirement has no fiscal impact on state government. The committee did not take an immediate vote during the hearing.
Proponents noted the measure aims to make it easier for customers to report unresolved disputes and for the PUC to see trends when utilities seek rate increases.
