OAR 860-085-0050: Rate Impact Estimating and Reports

(1) Electric companies and natural gas companies must submit a report to the Commission by July 1 of even numbered years, beginning in 2012, presenting estimates of, and analysis methods used and assumptions made in estimating the impacts to customer rates for meeting the following Oregon energy consumption based greenhouse gas emission reduction goals by January 1, 2020: (a) Ten percent below 1990 levels, under ORS 468A.205; and (b) Fifteen percent below 2005 levels. The rate impacts must be presented as the percent of change compared to a base case with no greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. (2) Electric companies and natural gas companies must use analysis methods and assumptions that are technically and economically feasible, and that contain all life-cycle costs. (3) Electric companies and natural gas companies must include a calculation of their Oregon energy consumption based greenhouse gas emissions for 1990 (estimated actual), 2005 (estimated actual) and 2020 (projected) in the report required in section (1) of this rule. (4) For electric companies the calculation required in section (3) of this rule must: (a) Utilize greenhouse gas emission factors for the specific generating technology used at each electric company’s own generating facilities. An electric company's own generating facilities include company-owned resources and wholesale purchases from specific generating units, less wholesale sales from those specific generating units. (b) Utilize the greenhouse gas emission rate proposed by the electric company and approved by the Commission for net market purchases, standard offer sales, and electricity service suppliers where generating technology cannot readily be determined with specificity. (5) For natural gas companies the calculation required in section (3) of this rule must reflect greenhouse gas emissions due to all natural gas company operations, activities and facilities. (6) The Commission will develop estimates of the rate impacts for electric companies and natural gas companies to meet the following alternative greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for 2020: (a) Ten percent below 1990 levels, as specified in ORS 468A.205; and (b) Fifteen percent below 2005 levels. (7) The Commission will submit a report presenting the estimates and explaining the analysis used to develop the estimates to the appropriate interim committee of the Legislative Assembly prior to November 1 of each even-numbered year. (8) Sections (1) through (7) of this rule are repealed on January 2, 2020.