Section 757.072 - Agreements for financial assistance to organizations representing customer interests; rules(1) A public utility providing electricity or natural gas may enter into a written agreement with an organization that represents broad customer interests in regulatory proceedings conducted by the Public Utility Commission relating to public utilities that provide electricity or natural gas. The agreement shall govern the manner in which financial assistance may be provided to the organization. The agreement may provide for financial assistance to other organizations found by the commission to be qualified under subsection (2) of this section. More than one public utility or organization may join in a single agreement. Any agreement entered into under this section must be approved by the commission before any financial assistance is provided under the agreement.(2)(a) Financial assistance under an agreement entered into under this section may be provided only to organizations that represent interests in regulatory proceedings before the commission relating to public utilities that provide electricity or natural gas that are:(A) The broad interests of customers;(B) The interests of low-income residential customers; or(C) The interests of residential customers that are members of environmental justice communities.(b) The commission by rule shall establish such qualifications as the commission deems appropriate for determining which organizations are eligible for financial assistance under an agreement entered into under this section.(c) The total aggregate financial assistance available to all organizations that represent the interests described in paragraph (a)(B) and (C) of this subsection from all public utilities providing electricity or natural gas may not exceed $500,000 annually.(d) The commission shall establish a process for evaluating and approving an agreement described in this section that includes the provision of financial assistance to organizations that represent the interests described in paragraph (a)(B) or (C) of this subsection. The commission must evaluate and approve an agreement described in this paragraph before financial assistance may be provided under the agreement. The agreement described in this paragraph shall govern the manner in which financial assistance may be provided to an organization found by the commission to be qualified under paragraph (a)(B) or (C) of this subsection. More than one public utility or organization may join in a single agreement described in this paragraph.(3) In administering an agreement entered into under this section, the commission by rule or order may determine: (a) The amount of financial assistance that may be provided to any organization;(b) The manner in which the financial assistance will be distributed;(c) The manner in which the financial assistance will be recovered in the rates of the public utility under subsection (4) of this section; and(d) Other matters necessary to administer the agreement.(4) The commission shall allow a public utility that provides financial assistance under this section to recover the amounts so provided in rates. The commission shall allow a public utility to defer inclusion of those amounts in rates as provided in ORS 757.259 if the public utility so elects. An agreement under this section may not provide for payment of any amounts to the commission. Amended by 2021 Ch. 90,§ 3, eff. 1/1/2022.