Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515 (2026)

Investigations and hearings on commission’s own motion; hearings for aggrieved persons

✓ current as of May 2026
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      756.515 Investigations and hearings on commission’s own motion; hearings for aggrieved persons. (1) Whenever the Public Utility Commission believes that any rate may be unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, or that any service is unsafe or inadequate, or is not afforded, or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility or telecommunications utility or other person should be made, or relating to any person to determine if such person is subject to the commission’s regulatory jurisdiction, the commission may on motion summarily investigate any such matter, with or without notice.

      (2) If after making such investigation the commission is satisfied that sufficient grounds exist to warrant a hearing being ordered upon any such matter, the commission shall furnish any public utility or telecommunications utility or other person interested a statement notifying it of the matters under investigation, which statement shall be accompanied by a notice fixing the time and place for hearing upon such matters in the manner provided in ORS 756.512 for notice of complaint.

      (3) Thereafter proceedings shall be had and conducted in reference to the matters investigated in like manner as though complaint had been filed with the commission relative thereto, and the same orders may be made in reference thereto as if such investigation had been made on complaint.

      (4) The commission may, after making an investigation on the commission’s motion, but without notice or hearing, make such findings and orders as the commission deems justified or required by the results of such investigation. Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section such findings and orders have the same legal force and effect as any other finding or order of the commission.

      (5) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, any party aggrieved by an order entered pursuant to subsection (4) of this section may request the commission to 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 a request for hearing.

      (6) If the commission receives a request for hearing pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the order is suspended pending the outcome of the hearing unless the commission finds that the order is necessary for the public health or safety or to prevent the dissipation of assets of a business or activity subject to the commission’s regulatory jurisdiction. [Formerly 757.515; 1973 c.776 §29; 1975 c.318 §1; 1983 c.703 §18; 1987 c.447 §92; 1995 c.733 §69]

 

HEARING PROCEDURE

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1977–2008 · leading case: Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 898 P.2d 774 (Or. Ct. App. 1995).
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 898 P.2d 774 (Or. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 8× “In response, PUC opened this “own motion” rate case pursuant to ORS 756.515. 1 The case was docketed as UT 85.”
Crooked River Ranch Water Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 198 P.3d 967 (Or. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 5× “Whether or not the commission determines that a hearing is necessary, ORS 756.515 contemplates that, in the case of a dispute over the PUC’s exercise of its authority, the PUC will first issue an order determining whether a person is ■within the PUC’s regulatory authority before…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Katz, 841 P.2d 652 (Or. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “" It has been granted the power to represent the customers of PNB in all controversies respecting rates, valuations, service and all other matters under its jurisdiction and, in doing so, the legislature has directed that PUC shall use its powers "to protect those customers, and…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 888 P.2d 562 (Or. 1995). · cites it 14× “” ORS 756.515. 2 In a proceeding without a “complaint,” the statutes are silent as to whether the regulated party is to be considered a “defendant.”
Am. Can Co. v. Davis, 559 P.2d 898 (Or. Ct. App. 1977). “The Commissioner could have disapproved or modified the proposed tariff if he had found different rates to be reasonable. ORS 757.210, 757.215.”
Garrison v. Pac. Nw. Bell, 608 P.2d 1206 (Or. Ct. App. 1980). “” ORS 756.515(1). Under ORS 756.565, "All rates, tariffs, classifications, regulations, practices and service fixed, approved or prescribed by the commissioner * * * shall be in force and shall be prima facie lawful and reasonable, until found otherwise in a proceeding brought…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Katz, 853 P.2d 1346 (Or. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “” ORS 756.515(4). ORS 756.515(6) provides: “[I]f the commission receives a request for hearing * * * the order is suspended pending the outcome of the hearing unless the commission finds that the order is necessary for the public health or safety or to prevent the dissipation of…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 872 P.2d 21 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 11× “Pursuant to ORS 756.515(1), PUC opened an “own motion” rate case to determine if Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) had excessive rates.”
Citizens' Util. Bd. v. Oregon Pub. Util. Comm'n, 877 P.2d 116 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “040 and ORS 756.515, permit PUC to require a *664 refund.”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 826 P.2d 105 (Or. Ct. App. 1992). “89-1044 pursuant to ORS 756.515(4), and in October, 1989, PNB sued to vacate the order in the Circuit Court for Multnomah County.”
Coalition for Safe Power v. Oregon Pub. Util. Comm'n, 911 P.2d 1272 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). “Eachus, 320 Or 557 , 888 P2d 562 (1995) (Eachus IV), the Supreme Court held that a public utility, which was the subject of an “own motion” proceeding instigated without formal complaint by the PUC pursuant to ORS 756.515, was a defendant for purposes of ORS 756.”
Low-Income Consumers Union v. Oregon Pub. Util. Comm'n, 946 P.2d 1164 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “” It could then have appeared in the public meeting to protest, filed a “written complaint” and forced a hearing.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(1) — 4 cases
Garrison v. Pac. Nw. Bell, 608 P.2d 1206 (Or. Ct. App. 1980). “” ORS 756.515(1). Under ORS 756.565, "All rates, tariffs, classifications, regulations, practices and service fixed, approved or prescribed by the commissioner * * * shall be in force and shall be prima facie lawful and reasonable, until found otherwise in a proceeding brought…”
Crooked River Ranch Water Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 198 P.3d 967 (Or. Ct. App. 2008). “Whether or not the commission determines that a hearing is necessary, ORS 756.515 contemplates that, in the case of a dispute over the PUC’s exercise of its authority, the PUC will first issue an order determining whether a person is ■within the PUC’s regulatory authority before…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 872 P.2d 21 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “Pursuant to ORS 756.515(1), PUC opened an “own motion” rate case to determine if Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) had excessive rates.”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 888 P.2d 562 (Or. 1995). “” ORS 756.515. 2 In a proceeding without a “complaint,” the statutes are silent as to whether the regulated party is to be considered a “defendant.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(2) — 3 cases
Crooked River Ranch Water Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 198 P.3d 967 (Or. Ct. App. 2008). “Whether or not the commission determines that a hearing is necessary, ORS 756.515 contemplates that, in the case of a dispute over the PUC’s exercise of its authority, the PUC will first issue an order determining whether a person is ■within the PUC’s regulatory authority before…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 888 P.2d 562 (Or. 1995). “” ORS 756.515. 2 In a proceeding without a “complaint,” the statutes are silent as to whether the regulated party is to be considered a “defendant.”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 872 P.2d 21 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “Pursuant to ORS 756.515(1), PUC opened an “own motion” rate case to determine if Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) had excessive rates.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(3) — 3 cases
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 888 P.2d 562 (Or. 1995). “” ORS 756.515. 2 In a proceeding without a “complaint,” the statutes are silent as to whether the regulated party is to be considered a “defendant.”
Crooked River Ranch Water Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 198 P.3d 967 (Or. Ct. App. 2008). “Whether or not the commission determines that a hearing is necessary, ORS 756.515 contemplates that, in the case of a dispute over the PUC’s exercise of its authority, the PUC will first issue an order determining whether a person is ■within the PUC’s regulatory authority before…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 872 P.2d 21 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “Pursuant to ORS 756.515(1), PUC opened an “own motion” rate case to determine if Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) had excessive rates.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(4) — 4 cases
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 898 P.2d 774 (Or. Ct. App. 1995). “In response, PUC opened this “own motion” rate case pursuant to ORS 756.515. 1 The case was docketed as UT 85.”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Katz, 853 P.2d 1346 (Or. Ct. App. 1993). “” ORS 756.515(4). ORS 756.515(6) provides: “[I]f the commission receives a request for hearing * * * the order is suspended pending the outcome of the hearing unless the commission finds that the order is necessary for the public health or safety or to prevent the dissipation of…”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 872 P.2d 21 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “Pursuant to ORS 756.515(1), PUC opened an “own motion” rate case to determine if Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) had excessive rates.”
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 826 P.2d 105 (Or. Ct. App. 1992). “89-1044 pursuant to ORS 756.515(4), and in October, 1989, PNB sued to vacate the order in the Circuit Court for Multnomah County.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(5) — 1 case
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Eachus, 898 P.2d 774 (Or. Ct. App. 1995). “In response, PUC opened this “own motion” rate case pursuant to ORS 756.515. 1 The case was docketed as UT 85.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 756.515(6) — 1 case
Pac. Nw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Katz, 853 P.2d 1346 (Or. Ct. App. 1993). “” ORS 756.515(4). ORS 756.515(6) provides: “[I]f the commission receives a request for hearing * * * the order is suspended pending the outcome of the hearing unless the commission finds that the order is necessary for the public health or safety or to prevent the dissipation of…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.