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COVID-19 Impacts

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting a series of workshops on the impacts of COVID-19 on utility customers. The workshop series explored recovery from the pandemic.

View the COVID-19 Impacts Final Report for information about the process and findings.

View the COVID-19 Commission Order (Order No. 20-324) authorizing Parties to enter into Stipulated Agreements. 

Link to docket summary for Docket No. UM 2114 - Investigation into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility customers.

Signed Commission Orders

Workshops & Events

UM 2114 Second Division 21 scoping discussion and review of Staff's revised working draft

When: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (PT)
Staff's AR 653 Report (Division 21 Rulemaking)
Meeting Recording
Division 21 Rules 05.11.2022 - MD - No track - Post-04.06.2022
Division 21 Second Supplemental Information - 05.09.2022
Division 21 Rules - 03.23.2022 - MD - No tracks
Division 21 Supplemental Information - 03.22.2022
Joint Advocates’ Initial Comments
Joint Advocates' Second Round of Comments 
Joint Advocates' Supplemental Comments to Second Round of Comments
Joint Utilities’ Initial Comments
Joint Utilities' Second Round of Comments
Joint Utilities’ Addition to Second Comments
SBUA’s Initial Comments
SBUA's Comments Following Staff Workshop

Avista – Low-Income Rate Assistance Plans Update

When: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Avista Presentation

NW Natural Gas – Arrearage Management Plan Proposal and Update

When: Friday, March 4, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (PT)
NW Natural Presentation

Cascade Natural Gas – Modified Big Heart Program Presentation – Advice 1367

When: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PT) 

UM 2114 Scoping discussion and initial review of Staff’s working draft

When: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (PT) 

"Staff Division 21 Working Draft"

Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Disconnect Practices (Paragraph 28) Update

When: Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo)

Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation Staff Update

When: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (PT) 
Staff Report (Memo)

Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Program Information Session

When: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (PT)
Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Learning Session Presentation
Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Program Poll Results

NW Natural AMP Mid-Point Presentation:

When: Monday, November 1, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM (PT)
NW Natural Presentation

Contact:  Natasha Siores, at Natasha.Siores@nwnatural.com

UM 2114 Workshop

When: Thursday, September 30, 2021 from 9:30 am. – 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda - 

  • 9:30 – 9:35 - Introduction (Mike Dougherty)
  • 9:35 – 10:00 - Deferrals to date (Michelle Scala)
  • 10:00 – 10:30 - Disconnections and AMPs to date (Utilities, 5 minutes each)
  • 10:30 – 11:10 – Discuss the following paragraphs (Keep October 2022, or end early) (Mike Dougherty)
      • Paragraph 11 – Reconnect fees
      • Paragraph 12 - Late payment fees, interest, and penalties
      • Paragraph 13 – Service disconnections and same day reconnections
      • Paragraph 16 – Medical Certificate self-certification
  • 11:10 – 11:40 – Voluntary Programs (Utilities, 5 minutes each)
  • 11:40 – 12:00 – DPP Evaluation (Pacific Power)
  • 12:00 – Actions going forward (Mike Dougherty)
Presentations -

Comments -

Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Arrearage Management Plans Update

When: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 from 1:30 pm. – 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Agenda

Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Disconnect Practices (Paragraph 28) Update

When: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 10:00 am. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo) 

Contact: Ezell Watson

UM 2114 Disconnect Practices Workshop #1 (Paragraph 28)

When: Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 1:00 pm. - 3:00 p.m. (PT) 
Meeting Recording 
Agenda
Staff's Presentation
Avista's Presentation
Breakout Room Notes
Joint Advocates letter (Electric utility service and upcoming heatwave)
Utility Response letter (Electric utility service and upcoming heatwave)
Idaho Power's Comments
Joint Utilities Comments
MCOS' Comments
NW Natural's Comments
Joint Stakeholder Comments on Disconnections (September 27, 2021)
Idaho Power Company's Informal Comments in response to Staff's request for comments (October 29, 2021)
Avista's Comments - UM 2114 Staff Memo (October 29, 2021)
NW Natural's response to Staff's request for comments (November 1, 2021)
PacifiCorp's comments in response to Staff's request for comments ((November 8, 2021)

Contact Ezell Watson

Special Public Meeting UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation

When: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PT)

Cascade Natural Gas' 50% Arrearage Management Program Check-in

When: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (PT)

Third Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)

When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT) 
Meeting Recording

Agenda:

  • 9:30 Introduction and Housekeeping 
  • 9:40 Recommendation #2 - Status of AMPs; and any actions to increase the percentage above the 1% of 2019 operating revenue. As it stands, only one utility is forecasting that AMP funds will be exhausted prior to the August 1, 2021, moratorium end date.
    • Staff's preface on data and observations based on May data and other updates
    • Utility updates on expenditures, effectiveness of AMPs, recommended program changes, and future needs, if any:
      • Avista
      • Cascade Natural Gas
      • NW Natural
      • Idaho Power
      • PacifiCorp
      • PGE
    • Group Discussion with CAAs, CBOs, and other stakeholders 
  • 11:00 Recommendation #3 – Determine “specific characteristics to identify customers that should receive special protection against energy disconnections, and the circumstances under which such protections should be provided." Although the base recommendation goes into specific detail on characteristics, this is a time to further explore what utilities and CAAs are witnessing that may result in an expansion of the base recommendation.
    • CAAs, CBOs, and Other Stakeholders Observations and Recommendations
    • Utilities Observations and Recommendations
    • Group Discussion 
  • 12:00 - Next Steps 

Additional resources -

Idaho Power's 50% Arrearage Management Program Check-in

When: Monday, June 21, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Presentation
Meeting Recording

NW Natural ADV 1249/Advice 21-02  Workshop on
Community  Outreach for Residential AMP

When: Monday, June 7, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (PT)
Presentation

PacifiCorp's Assistance Plus Program - Interim Program Review

When: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (PT)
Presentation

Special Public Meeting UM 2114 Moratorium Update

When: Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Staff Report (Memo) 
Presentation - 
Avista Utilities' Presentation 

Second Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)

When: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PT) 
Agenda:

  • Staff's recommendations
  • Discussion
  • Next Steps 

Meeting Recording

PGE Bill Assistance Program (PGE Advice No. 21-01)

When: Monday, May 3, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Meeting Recording
Presentation -
PGE's Presentation (added 5/4/2021)
PGE's Presentation Update to the OPUC from 10/28/2021 (added 11/10/2021)

PacifiCorp - ADV 1247/Advice No. 21-005 Workshop on Targeted Outreach for Residential Bill Assistance Program

When: Monday, April 26, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Presentation -
PacifiCorp COVID BAP Outreach Workshop

Avista Debt Relief Program Overview

When: Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (PT)
Presentation -
Avista's OR COVID-19 Debt Relief Program Review 

Third Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)

When: Monday, April 12, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (PT) 
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Voluntary Program Summary
Presentations -
Avista Customer Outreach Presentation
Cascade Natural Gas' Big HEART Energy Assistance Outreach 
Idaho Power's AMP Program and Outreach Update 
Idaho Power's Project Share Presentation

UM 2114 Workshop on Energy Trust and Energy Efficiency (Paragraph 31)

When: Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Notes from meeting
Workshop Follow-Up

Workshop materials -

Contact Anna Kim if you have questions about this meeting

Commission Public Meeting - Residential Debt Relief Programs

When: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 starting at  9:30 a.m. (Expect Residential Debt Relief public hearings to start approximately 10:15) (PT) 
Agenda
AMP Summary
Arrearage Management Plan Principles

View the press release announcing Commission approval of debt relief programs for investor-owned utilities.

PGE Debt Relief Program Overview

When: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
PGE's Presentation

Commission Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 Investigation into the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utility Customers

When: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (PT) 
Agenda - includes link to the meeting and dial-in information
Staff Report (Memo)
CAPO Comments 
AVISTA Comments 
NW  Energy Coalition Comments 
CUB's Comments 
Joint Utilities Comments 
CCC Comments 
CEP Comments 
Multnomah County Comments 
EMO Comments 
SBUA Comments
NAYA Comments

Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)

When: Friday, February 12, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (PT)
Agenda:

  • Staff's recommendations
  • Discussion
  • Next Steps

PacifiCorp's Bill Payment Assistance Program

When: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda:

Second Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)

When: Monday, February 1, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording
Presentations -
Avista
Cascade Natural Gas
NW Natural

Documents for the meeting -

Customer Eligibility Workshop (Paragraph 33)

When: Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda (revised)
Meeting Recording

Documents for the meeting -

PGE Bill Assistance Workshop

When: Monday, January 11, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Filing

Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)

When: Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda
Meeting Recording

Low Income Customer Enrollment (Paragraph 33)

When: Thursday, December 3, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
Agenda 
Meeting Recording

Presentation - Low Income Assistance Programs - OHCS
Presentation - Low Income Bill Assistance Flow Chart - OPUC Staff
Presentation - Low Income Program Gas Utility Catagorial Eligibility - OPUC Staff

Workshop #6

When: Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Commission Workshop

When: Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. (PT)

Agenda 
Meeting Recording 
COVID-19 Staff Report - DRAFT 

Comments:

Workshop #5

When: Thursday, September 3, 2020

Telecom Workshop #2

When: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Water Utilities Workshop #1

When: Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Workshop #4

When: Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Workshop #3

When: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. (PT)

Agenda

Meeting Recording

Presentation - Rate and Regulatory Mechanisms

Presentation - Stakeholder Survey Results

Comments:

Data Workshop #2

When: Thursday, August 6, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PT)

Agenda

Meeting Recording

Telecom Workshop #1

When: Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (PT)

Format: Microsoft Teams (view the agenda for details)

Agenda

Meeting Recording

Workshop #2

When: Thursday, July 16, 2020 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Agenda

Meeting Recording

Comments:

Data Workshop

When: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Agenda
Meeting Recording

Workshop #1 

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 1-5 p.m. 

Agenda

Meeting Recording

List of questions discussed at this workshop. Below are responses to these questions submitted in writing:


If you have questions about the workshops, contact Michael Dougherty. If you want to be included on the distribution list, email Mark Brown.





More In This Section


Contact Information
Questions about workshops - Contact Bryan Conway

Request to be added to the distribution list - Contact Mark Brown

Overall Schedule
4/6/2022 - UM 2114 Second Division 21 scoping discussion and review of Staff's revised working draft
3/30/2022 - Avista - Low-Income Rate Assistance Plans Update
3/4/2022 - NW Natural Gas - Arrearage Management Plan Proposal Update
2/15/2022 - Cascade Natural Gas presentation
2/2/2022 - Scoping discussion and initial review of Staff’s working draft
11/17/2021 - Special Public Meeting - UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation Staff Update 
11/9/2021 Energy Trust Manufactured Home Replacement Program Information Session
11/1/2021 - NW Natural AMP Mid-Point Presentation
9/30/2021 - UM 2114 Workshop
9/7/2021 - Special Public Meeting UM 2114 Arrearage Management Plans Update 
8/25/2021 - Special Public Meeting UM 2114 Disconnect Practices (Paragraph 28) Update
7/22/2021 - UM 2114 Disconnect Practices Workshop #1 (Paragraph 28)
7/13/2021 - Special Public Meeting UM 2114 COVID-19 Investigation
7/7/2021 - Cascade Natural Gas' 50% Arrearage Mgmt Program Check-in
6/23/2021 - Third Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)
6/21/2021 - Idaho Power 50% Arrearage Mgmt Program Check-in
6/7/2021 - NW Natural ADV 1249/Advice 21-02 Workshop
6/2/2021 - PacifiCorp's Assistance Plus Program - Interim Program Review
5/13/2021 - Special Public Meeting UM 2114 Moratorium Update
5/5/2021 - Second Moratorium Workshop (Paragraph 4)
5/3/2021 - PGE Bill Assistance Program
4/26/2021 - PacifiCorp - Residential Bill Assistance Program
4/22/2021 - Avista Debt Relief Program Overview
4/12/2021 - Third Arrearage Management Programs (Paragraph 29)
4/1/2021 - UM 2114 Workshop on Energy Trust and Energy Efficiency  (Paragraph 31)
3/23/2021 - Commission Public Meeting on Residential Debt Relief Programs
3/16/2021 - PGE Debt Relief Program Overview
2/23/2021 - Commission Special Public Meeting - Docket UM 2114 Update
2/12/2021 - Moratorium Workshop
2/9/2021 - PacifiCorp's Bill Payment Assistance Program
2/1/2021 - Second Arrearage Management Programs
1/28/2021 - Customer Eligibility Workshop
1/11/2021 PGE Bill Assistance Workshop
12/17/2020 - Arrearage Management Programs
12/3/2020 - Low Income Customer Enrollment Meeting
9/24/2020 - Commission Special Public Meeting
9/15/2020 - Final Report
9/15/2020 - Workshop #6
9/8/2020 - Commission Workshop
9/3/2020 - Draft Report
9/3/2020 - Workshop #5
9/2/2020 - Telecom Workshop #2
9/1/2020 - Water Utilities Workshop #1
8/26/2020 - Workshop #4
8/12/2020 - Workshop #3
8/6/2020 - Data Workshop #2
7/30/2020 - Data responses deadline
7/30/2020 - Telecom Workshop #1
7/16/2020 - Workshop #2
7/13/2020 - Deadline for additional data requests
7/8/2020 Data Workshop
6/30/2020 Workshop #1

Resources & Data
           Data that informed Utility
           Disconnect Data
           documents above: