Some benefits from federal hydro system to resume for our customers.
With a decision issued September 22, the Bonneville Power Administration plans to restart benefits for many customers of Northwest utilities, including eligible Pacific Power customers in Oregon and Washington.

“We are glad there will be at least some level of benefit for our Oregon and Washington residential and small farm customers, and we’re particularly pleased these benefits will start before the winter heating season,” said Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power.

Until they were suspended by BPA in Spring 2007, these benefits were directly passed through as credits on the electricity bills of the Pacific Northwest’s seven investor-owned electricity utilities, representing these customers’ share of power-cost benefits from the Northwest’s federal hydropower system. Investor-owned utilities serve approximately 60 percent of the region’s population, and 75 percent of Oregonians.

While the benefits to be restored are significant, the level continues to be far less than what should be flowing to customers and is well below previous levels. A key problem is the “lookback” – where BPA is requiring that customers pay back what BPA determined to be “over-payments” received by investor-owned utility customers over the past seven years. Then, BPA further reduced benefits by arbitrarily accelerating the payback period.

With the change, Oregon and Washington residential and small farm customers will receive a monthly credit of approximately 4 percent. This is a decrease of about $3.63 each month on the average Oregon residential customer bill, and a decrease of about $3.31 per month for typical Washington residential customers. This compares to previous benefit levels of approximately 13 percent for typical Oregon residential customers and almost 17 percent for Washington residential customers.

Credits should begin appearing on the statements of eligible customers beginning Novemeber 1.

We continue to work with other utilities in the region to reach a more equitable solution for sharing the benefits of the hydroelectric system -- whether it's ongoing work with BPA, pursuing litigation or working with the delegation for action that could include revisiting the Northwest Power Act.


You can take advantage of energy efficiency and assistance programs for residential customers in your state: