06.29.01

Senator Cantwell Commends Region for Holding Down BPA's Rate Increase

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today commended the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and all parties in the Northwest that helped hold BPA's wholesale power rate increase to 46 percent. Cantwell said that the news would come as a great relief to Washington state ratepayers, in contrast to the estimated 250 percent rate increase the region was facing just a few short months ago. Cantwell also called on Secretary Abraham to name Steve Wright the administrator of BPA.

"This is a great relief for Washington families, businesses, and farmers who were expecting that BPA would be forced to raise its rates by triple digits," Cantwell said. "When BPA estimated that without regional cooperation its rate increase would be 250 percent, it was obvious that all Northwest stakeholders had to work together to find a better solution.

"This increase is by no means insignificant, and we must keep focusing on conservation, the development of clean resources and ways to use energy more efficiently, since supplies remain tight this year. But this rate hike is far more manageable than the increase we anticipated, and it's an example of what the region can accomplish when people sit down and negotiate. If this drought ends and power prices continue to improve, there's also the possibility rates may be lowered in six months," Cantwell added.

"Acting BPA Administrator Steve Wright and his team deserve our thanks for their hard work and dedication to this process. Steve has been done an excellent job in guiding BPA through one of the toughest periods in its history," Cantwell said. "That's one of the reasons I, along with all seven other Northwest senators, have urged Secretary Abraham to name Steve the permanent Administrator."