ORS 759.250
Contracts for special services
- procedure for filing and approval
- subsequent review and investigation
(1)
A telecommunications utility may enter into a contract with any customer for the provision of a telecommunications service that the Public Utility Commission determines is a new service with limited availability, is designed to respond to a unique customer requirement or is subject to competition. Contracts shall be for a stated time period, not to exceed five years. If a contract includes competitive and noncompetitive service elements, the noncompetitive service elements shall be unbundled and priced separately from all other facilities and service elements in the contract. Such noncompetitive service elements shall be made available to all purchasers under the same or substantially the same circumstances at the same rate, terms and conditions.(2)
The telecommunications utility shall file any contract with the commission no later than 90 days following its effective date. At the customer’s request, the telecommunications utility shall file the contract at least 30 days in advance of the effective date. Notice of the filing of the contract shall be given by the commission to all persons who have filed with the commission a petition to receive such notice.(3)
Contracts entered into under this section are not schedules of rates, tolls or charges within the meaning of ORS 759.175 (Filing rate schedules and data with commission). A contract entered into under this section shall be enforceable by the contracting parties according to its terms, unless the contract has been rejected by the commission as provided in this section.(4)
Notwithstanding ORS 759.175 (Filing rate schedules and data with commission) to 759.185 (Suspension of rates pending hearing), the commission shall approve any contract for a telecommunications service entered into under this section if the commission finds the following:(a)
The telecommunications service is a new service with limited availability, is designed to respond to a unique customer requirement or is subject to competition. In making the determination of whether a service is subject to competition, the commission shall consider whether the customer might reasonably have chosen an alternative to the telecommunications utility’s service.(b)
The contracted price for the telecommunications service is above the long run incremental costs of providing such service during the term of the contract. In making this calculation for a contract that includes both competitive and noncompetitive service elements, the commission shall consider separately whether the competitive service elements are priced above the long run incremental costs of providing such service elements.(c)
The contracted price for the telecommunications service includes all costs of providing such service, including the rate that would be charged by a telecommunications utility to any competitive telecommunications provider for any component essential to the competitive telecommunications provider’s ability to offer the telecommunications service. The commission shall determine which components of the service shall be deemed essential and the method to include prices of those components in costs of such services.(5)
The commission shall issue an order regarding any contract filed under subsection (2) of this section within 90 days of the filing. If the commission does not act within 90 days of the filing, the contract shall be deemed approved. If the commission disapproves the contract, it shall enter an order describing the ways in which the contract fails to meet the standards set forth in subsection (4) of this section and declaring the contract null and void. The telecommunications utility or customer may request that the commission hold a hearing to determine whether the order should continue in effect. Any such request for hearing shall be submitted to the commission not later than 15 days after the date of service of the order, and the commission shall hold the hearing not later than 60 days after receipt of such request for hearing.(6)
Notwithstanding ORS 192.311 (Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478) to 192.478 (Exemption for Judicial Department), the commission shall not disclose the identity of a customer or any customer proprietary information contained in a contract filed under subsection (2) of this section without the consent of the customer and the telecommunications utility.(7)
No contract filed under subsection (2) of this section may be automatically renewed. A contract renewal shall be treated as a new contract.(8)
Nothing in this section shall be deemed state action for the purpose of exempting a telecommunications utility from liability for anticompetitive conduct or other unlawful practices.(9)
Any contract executed prior to September 29, 1991, and approved by the commission is deemed lawful and shall be enforceable by the contracting parties according to its terms. A contract renewal shall be deemed a new contract.(10)
Nothing in this section shall restrict the commission from subsequent scrutiny of the reasonableness of contracts filed under this section for ratemaking purposes.(11)
In accordance with ORS 756.515 (Investigations and hearings on commission’s own motion), the commission may investigate contracts filed by a specific telecommunications utility under this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the commission finds that contracts entered into by a telecommunications utility have not generally been in the public interest, the commission, by order, may prevent or restrict the telecommunications utility from future contracting pursuant to this section and may require the telecommunications utility to file contracts under ORS 759.175 (Filing rate schedules and data with commission). [1991 c.527 §2]
Source:
Section 759.250 — Contracts for special services; procedure for filing and approval; subsequent review and investigation, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors759.html.
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