What is happening with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) wholesale power rates and how does that impact my own electric rates as a member of Coos-Curry Electric?
Two recent actions will likely have a big impact on BPAs wholesale power rates to electricity consumers in the Northwest. One involved a court decision and the other involved a BPAmanagement decision. Both will likely cause rates to CCEC members to go up. First, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld a lower court order requiring large volumes of spill at Snake River and Lower Columbia River hydroelectric dams this summer. Unfortunately, this spill program not only has little proven biological benefit for the salmon which the region has spent more than $700 million to protect each year through power rates but also leaves less water available for generating electricity. That bottom line cost is an additional $60$70 million, possibly leading to a four-to-five percent increase in wholesale power rates. Second, at the same time the regions generation capacity is being reduced, BPAannounced that it would offer preferential power benefits to three Northwest aluminum companies and
