March 10, 2005
(Updated) Portland Reacts To PGE Decision
Not That We Can Hear Most Of It
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
As we start writing this, various local, regional, and state officials are responding to the PUC's rejection of the sale of PGE to Texas Pacific Group. Unfortunately, we are watching it via the online feed of City Net 30, which has a sound quality approximately the same as rapidly sticking your fingers in and out of your ears while underwater.
Here's what we have managed to catch so far.
Mayor Tom Potter says that the City is "ready to bring long-term stability" and is "going to move quickly". He has directed his staff to take some form of "immediate action" that City Net 30 refused to let us hear.
Potter referenced the goals set out in the statement from Governor Kulongoski and said that "our proposal to build a regional utility does just that".
The mayor of Woodburn, Oregon, said: "It is wonderful to see people doing the right thing, for the right reasons, for the benefit of the ratepayers and businesses of Oregon."
Bill Bradbury, Oregon's Secretary of State, called the PUC's decision "truly in the best interests of the people of the state". He said he was "very excited to see all of us work to create a regional utility that really does the best job for the people".
Commissioner Erik Sten, who has spearheaded the whole pitch for the City to purchase PGE, was entirely impossible to hear over City Net 30.
During questions from the press, Potter indicated that the City would be contacting Enron within the next twenty-four hours to discuss the City's interest and intentions.
Update
Thanks to the Mayor's office, what follows is the full text of Potter's prepared remarks, delivered at the start of this afternoon's news conference:
This is an exciting day for Oregon families and Oregon businesses. We were confident the PUC would protect the needs of local ratepayers. Their actions today put us a step closer to keeping one of our most basic and essential services right here in Oregon.
But this is only a first step. Now, a coalition of regional partners including the City of Portland is ready to bring long-term stability to a regional utility that is essential to the well being of each of us. It is important that everyone know that we are going to move quickly, and we are going to be successful.
After the PUC acted this morning, I directed my staff to take immediate action to advise Enron of our intent to pursue this immediately. The benefits to both parties are powerful:
For Enron, a ready and willing buyer prepared to act quickly and present them a workable deal.
For the people of this region, an agreement that keeps rates low, that provides long-term stability, protects Oregon jobs and is led by a professional utility management team.I also spoke with Gov. Kulongoski earlier today. The governor stated his belief that any proposal moving forward provide rate relief for customers, keep PGE whole, protect Oregon jobs and protect the communities that rely on the utility. Our proposal to build a regional utility does just that.
I have asked Commissioner Sten to lead this process. His deep knowledge and strong commitment are vital to this effort. I have directed that City staff be made available full time to focus on the sale to insure negotiations move forward quickly.
In the months ahead I will be working with our regional partners to explain the benefits of our purchase to the citizens and businesses in the six counties and 54 cities affected by what happens to PGE. There is little that is more important to our region than keeping $100 million dollars a year in ratepayers pockets, and making sure that Oregon tax dollars stay in Oregon.
The Advisory Committee made up of our regional partners that will create the new public utility has already been formed. Members have been identified and contacted. They indicated this morning they are ready to begin working with us to shape a success public model.
We start this process with strong regional partners, a sound economic model and a negotiating team ready to begin work today. We also start it knowing the stakes for our consumers and businesses are real: When electric rates rise, families and businesses are hurt.
I am calling on Enron to begin the negotiations that will help our region make PGE a public utility whose customers and stockholders are one and the same and whose goals are reliable, excellent service at the lowest possible rates.
Update
KGW reports on competition for the purchase of PGE in the wake of the PUC decision.
Oregon Mutual Utility Development, Inc. proposes a mutual ownership by PGE’s customers of the utility, which would be similar to mutual insurance companies.
According to the article, the chair of the new group is Fred Buckman, former CEO of PacifiCorp.
And, of course, there's the other proposal (or, expressed interest, anyway) from state legislators.
Comments (4)
Bob R. on 10 Mar 2005
[simpsons comic book guy voice on]
"Worst Audio Feed Ever..."
[voice off]
I sat watching the TV squirming to hold back my rage at how useless my degree in Broadcast Media Communications is, because apparently someone with no knowledge of video production can be hired to cablecast important mayoral press conferences. Especially when I could tell immediately the cause of the problem.
Obviously, the podium mic was either off or not turned up on the mixer. They had a mic somewhere near the back of the room, hooked up to a noise gate to prevent low-level background noise from being broadcast. Thus, we can only barely hear the person at the podium, but we can't turn the volume up on our TVs because every time a car goes by, or someones chair creaks, or someone coughs, the noise gate opens and blammo!
[end of useless aside]
- Bob R.
Suzii on 10 Mar 2005
The O got the printed copy. "Mayor Tom Potter said Thursday that the City of Portland and its regional partners would act quickly to buy Portland General Electric..."
allehseya on 10 Mar 2005
Erik Sten has my support and best wishes (I daresay, he'll need it from as many citizens as possible during the backlash of critique that will surface) while the Mayor just illustrated why I voted for him.
RTH on 10 Mar 2005
Wow!
Now we move into a differnt phase of Robber Barons.
Holding the state of Portland and the state of Oregon at mercy.
Ohhhh, My!
Lord, have mercy on the state of Portland for it does not know what it does.