Northwest Energy Efficiency Council

Nonprofit trade association of the energy efficiency industry

  • News
    • Job Postings
    • Member Press Releases
  • Events
  • NEEC Programs
    • Smart Buildings Center
    • Tool Lending Library
    • Building Operator Certification (BOC)
    • Clean Buildings Performance Standard Helpdesk
    • K-12 Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality Helpdesk
  • Members
  • Resources
    • Building Tune-Ups Service Providers
    • Portland Benchmarking Providers
    • Seattle Benchmarking Providers
  • About
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Membership
You are here: Home / Industry / BPA Announces Rate Increase

BPA Announces Rate Increase

August 15, 2013 By NEEC

[From BPA press release, 7/24/13]

On July 24th, the Bonneville Power Administration adopted a 9 percent average wholesale power rate increase and an 11 percent average transmission rate increase. The transmission rate increase is the first in six years. The new rates support needed improvements to ensure the region’s federal hydropower and transmission systems can continue to reliably deliver carbon-free, affordable power to Northwest homes and businesses. The new rates take effect Oct. 1, 2013.

“We recognize that rate increases are very challenging for customers, especially for those still in the throes of a slow economy,” said BPA Acting Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “But the increases are necessary so that we can preserve the long-term value of carbon-free federal generation and support the reliability of the high-voltage transmission lines that serve Northwest public utilities.”

For Bonneville’s utility power customers, the wholesale rate increase will be an average of 9 percent higher than current rates. The power rate increase stems from higher costs to operate and maintain the federal hydroelectric system, higher costs to fund existing long-term agreements for the fish and wildlife mitigation program and reduced revenues from surplus power sales due to low market prices.
For transmission customers, the first rate increase in six years averages 11 percent higher than current rates. The transmission rate increase stems from a growing construction program driven by the need to repair and replace aging infrastructure and increase spending on mandatory compliance and security requirements. An average of $20 million per year in financial reserves will be used to offset part of the rate increase.

Wholesale power and transmission rates are developed every two years through a formal rate-setting process with BPA’s utility customers and other stakeholders. The process began in November when BPA announced its rate proposals for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
The new rates will affect utilities differently depending on the amount of power and type of services they purchase from BPA. Local utilities ultimately determine the rate impact of BPA rates on individual businesses and residents.

The final rate proposal will be filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the end of July to provide the required 60 days for review and approval.

Find more information on the rate case process here: www.bpa.gov/goto/ratecase.

 

Filed Under: Industry

Subscribe to NEEC Updates via email

2022 Impact Snapshot

ECONorthwest Reports

Report cover

Two reports, commissioned by NEEC, provide quantitative results on the economic development effects of energy efficiency in WA and OR

View Reports

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • There are no upcoming events.
  • March 2023

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

0 events, 6

0 events, 7

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

0 events, 11

0 events, 12

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

0 events, 20

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

  • There are no upcoming events.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Recent News Posts

Job Posting (Oregon): Energy Engineer/Energy Coach

March 23, 2023

Job Posting (Oregon): Measure Development Manager, Deadline 3/31

March 23, 2023

Tier 2 Rulemaking Kick-Off Webinar April 13th 10:30AM – 12PM

March 23, 2023

Puget Sound Energy’s 2023 Accelerator program is open for business

March 17, 2023

CEM Training at the SBC, May 1st-5th

March 17, 2023

LinkedIn   Facebook

Northwest Energy Efficiency Council · Pacific Tower, 1200 12th Ave. S., Suite 110, Seattle, WA 98144 · info@neec.net · Contact Us

© 2023 · Northwest Energy Efficiency Council