Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 860 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Division 37 - WASTEWATER SERVICE REGULATION FOR JOINT WATER/WASTEWATER UTILITIES
Section 860-037-0555 - Relating to City Fees, Taxes, and Other Assessments

(1) The aggregate amount of all business or occupation taxes, licenses, franchise or operating permit fees, or other similar exactions imposed upon wastewater utilities by any city in Oregon for engaging in wastewater business within such city or for use and occupancy of city streets and public ways, which does not exceed 3.5 percent, applied to gross revenues as defined herein, shall be allowed as operating expenses of such wastewater utilities for rate-making purposes and shall not be itemized or billed separately.

(2) Except as otherwise provided herein, "gross revenues" means revenues received from utility wastewater service operations less related net uncollectibles. Gross revenues shall not include proceeds from the sale of bonds, mortgage or other evidence of indebtedness, securities or stocks, sales at wholesale by one utility to another when the wastewater utility purchasing the service is not the ultimate customer.

(3) Permit fees or similar charges for street opening, installations, construction, and the like to the extent such fees or charges are reasonably related to the city's costs for inspection, supervision, and regulation in exercising its police powers, and the value of any wastewater utility service or use of facilities provided on November 6, 1967, to a city without charge, shall not be considered in computing the percentage levels herein set forth. Any such service may be continued within the same category or type of use. The value of any additional category of wastewater utility service or use of facilities provided after November 6, 1967, to a city without charge shall be considered in computing the percentage levels herein set forth.

(4) This rule shall not affect franchises existing on November 6, 1967, granted by a city. Payments made or value of wastewater service rendered by a wastewater utility under such franchises shall not be itemized or billed separately. When compensation different from the percentage levels in section (1) of this rule is specified in a franchise existing on November 6, 1967, such compensation shall continue to be treated by the affected wastewater utility as an operating expense during the balance of the term of such franchise. Any tax, fee, or other exaction set forth in section (1) of this rule, unilaterally imposed or increased by any city during the unexpired term of a franchise existing on November 6, 1967, and containing a provision for compensation for use and occupancy of streets and public ways, shall be charged pro rata to local users as herein provided.

(5) Except as provided in section (4) of this rule, to the extent any city tax, fee, or other exaction referred to in section (1) of this rule exceeds the percentage levels allowable as operating expenses in section (1) of this rule, such excess amount shall be charged pro rata to wastewater utility service customers within said city and shall be separately stated on the regular billings to such customers.

(6) The percentage levels in section (1) of this rule may be changed if the Commission determines after such notice and hearing, as required by law, that fair and reasonable compensation to a city or all cities should be fixed at a different level or that by law or the particular circumstances involved a different level should be established.

(7) The amount allowed as an operating expense may be described on customers' bills in a manner determined by the wastewater utility.