(1) The Public Utility Commission may, pending such investigation and determination, order the suspension of the rate or schedule of rates for a period of up to 10 months beyond the time when such rate or schedule would otherwise go into effect. (2) This section does not prevent the commission and the utility from entering into a written stipulation at any time extending any period of suspension. (3) After full hearing, whether completed before or after such rate or schedule has gone into effect, the commission may make such order in reference thereto as would be proper in a proceeding initiated after such rate or schedule has become effective. (4) If the commission is required to or determines to conduct a hearing on a rate or schedule of rates filed pursuant to ORS 757.210, but does not order a suspension thereof, any increased revenue collected by the utility as a result of such rate or rate schedule becoming effective shall be received subject to being refunded. If the rate or rate schedule thereafter approved by the commission is for a lesser increase or for no increase, the utility shall refund the amount of revenues received that exceeds the amount approved as nearly as possible to the customers from whom such excess revenues were collected, by a credit against future bills or otherwise, in such manner as the commission orders. (5) The commission may in a suspension order authorize an interim rate or rate schedule under which the utilitys revenues will be increased by an amount deemed reasonable by the commission, not exceeding the amount requested by the utility. Any such interim increase for a public utility as defined in ORS 757.005 that produces, transmits, delivers or furnishes heat, light or power shall be effected by rates designed to increase the utilitys revenues without materially changing the revenue relationships among customer classes or between the revenues derived from demand charges and from energy charges. An interim rate or rate schedule shall remain in effect until terminated by the commission. Upon completion of the hearing and decision, the commission shall order the utility to refund that portion of the increase in the interim rate or schedule that the commission finds is not justified. Any refund of an interim increase under this subsection shall be based upon an analysis of the utilitys earnings for a period reasonably representative of the period during which the interim increase was in effect. Refunds shall be made as nearly as possible to the customers against whom the interim rates were charged, by credits against future bills or in such other manner as the commission orders. (6) Refunds ordered by the commission under subsection (4) or (5) of this section shall include interest on the amount determined to be subject to refund from the date such interim rate or rate schedules took effect. [Amended by 1981 c.715 2; 1991 c.964 1; 2023 c.53 1; 2025 c.503 8]
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