-----Original Message-----
From: mmeyers@kptv.com [mailto:mmeyers@kptv.com]
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 3:16 PM
To: Meyers, Bert
Subject: Article from bizjournals.com: Power gets pricier today


Hello from bizjournals.com! Molly Meyers (mmeyers@kptv.com) thought you
might like the following article from The Business Journal:

The sender's comment about the article:

FYI...


Power gets pricier today


Brian J. Back  
------------------------------------------------------------
   Despite the 11th-hour clamoring of industry and consumer groups,
   Portland General Electric's 30 to 50 percent rate increases took effect
   today.

   Last Monday, Associated Oregon Industries, Industrial Customers of
   Northwest Utilities and the Citizen's Utility Board collectively
   petitioned the Oregon Public Utility Commission to delay and reconsider
   the rate increases. The groups said the increases amount to "rate shock"
   and would further debilitate an ailing Northwest economy.

   OPUC decided Friday to deny the delay request. However, the commission
   did agree to review the reconsideration request in an expedited process
   that could take fewer than 30 days.

   "The commission, in denying the stay petition, concluded the petitioners
   failed to show irreparable harm, and a colorable claim of error in the
   order," stated an OPUC press release.

   PGE has said the increases reflect a leap in wholesale costs it pays to
   buy power on the open market. The utility is offering free "audits" to
   help businesses find ways to conserve power.

   One key backer of the petition is Intel Corp., which told "The Business
   Journal" last week that its own 50 percent rate increase "makes Oregon
   much less competitive to do business, and that gets factored into future
   investment decisions."

   Also last week, OPUC approved requests from the state's three natural
   gas distributors--Northwest Natural, Cascade and Avista--to increase
   prices today. Rates for Northwest Natural's commercial and industrial
   customers are increasing by 23 to 28 percent. Similar customers of
   Cascade will see increases of around 8 percent.



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