(1) Following a Public Utility Commission determination that such services are subject to competition, a natural gas utility may enter into a contract with any customer for the provision of natural gas commodity, rights to pipeline capacity and natural gas transportation services when such services are provided in advance of the point of interconnection between the facility of the natural gas utility and the facility of an interstate pipeline.

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(2) Contracts for services described under subsection (1) of this section are not schedules of rates, tolls or charges within the meaning of ORS § 757.205 and are not subject to the requirements of ORS § 757.205, 757.230 and 757.310.

(3) A contract for services described under subsection (1) of this section may include services provided after the point of interconnection between a natural gas utility’s facility and the interstate pipeline’s facility. Services provided after the point of interconnection are subject to the requirements of ORS § 757.205, 757.230 and 757.310 and shall be separately priced in accordance with the utility’s filed tariffs.

(4) A natural gas utility entering contracts for services described under subsection (1) of this section shall make available to the commission any information necessary for review of such contracts for ratemaking purposes. Notwithstanding ORS § 192.311 to 192.478, the commission shall not release the terms of any contract or portion of a contract for services described in subsection (1) of this section without the consent of the customer and the natural gas utility except for contracts entered into between a natural gas utility and an affiliated interest of that natural gas utility. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a contract for services described in subsection (1) of this section between a natural gas utility and another public utility may be released by the commission pursuant to a hearing held under ORS § 757.210.

(5) Nothing in this section shall restrict the commission from subsequent investigation of the reasonableness of contracts entered into under subsection (1) of this section for ratemaking purposes. The commission’s review of such contracts for ratemaking purposes shall not in any way affect the obligations or rights of the parties under the contracts.

(6) In accordance with ORS § 756.515, the commission may investigate the activities of a natural gas utility related to contracts described under subsection (1) of this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the commission finds that the activities of a natural gas utility have not generally been in the public interest, the commission, by order, may require the natural gas utility to file all future contracts described under subsection (1) of this section as provided under ORS § 757.205 or 757.240. Any such finding by the commission shall not affect the obligations or rights of the parties under any existing contracts.

(7) Nothing in this section, nor any action taken by the commission pursuant to this section, shall be deemed state action for the purpose of exempting a natural gas utility from liability for anticompetitive conduct or other unlawful practices.

(8) As used in this section, ‘natural gas utility’ means a public utility providing natural gas service to customers. [1993 c.485 § 2]

ELIMINATION OF COAL FROM ELECTRICITY SUPPLY