ORS 757.068 Use of fees to make emergency repairs to water service plants

In each biennium the Public Utility Commission may use not more than $5,000 of the fees collected under ORS 756.310 to make emergency repairs to the plants of public utilities providing water service. The commission may expend moneys under the provisions of this section only if the commission determines that:

Customers of the utility are without service and are likely to remain without service for an unreasonable period of time;

The utility is unwilling or unable to make emergency repairs, or cannot be found after reasonable effort; and

Restoration of the service is necessary for the health and safety of the customers of the utility.

The commission shall attempt to recover fees used under this section from the utility providing water service. The commission may also recover a penalty as provided in ORS 756.350 from the time the fees are expended.