LIGHT READING INLAND POWER AND LIGHT inlandpower.com
JUNE 2017
Working for You: Your Trustees Visit Washington D.C. to Voice Inland Power’s Message Last month, nine representatives from the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA), which included two of Inland’s board of trustees, visited 11 Congressional offices to discuss key energy issues impacting the Pacific Northwest. Inland Power intends to have an active voice on any issue that may impact electric rates for our membership. They discussed several issues, but Inland was primarily concerned about the following four hot topics in the other Washington.
Increasing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Rate Pressures - BPA continues to battle increasing rate pressures from ever increasing aging infrastructure costs for both the federal power and transmission systems as well as increasing fish and wildlife costs. Internally, BPA has launched an internal cost management initiative as their average power rates continue to increase at twice the rate of inflation. Your Inland trustees met with legislators to discuss what help they could give to help reduce the external factors putting pressure on BPA rates.
Opposition to Snake River Dam Removal - The group met with legislators
Meeting with Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell were (left to right) WRECA President David Gottula, general manager of Okanogan County EC; Danny Lee, trustee of Inland Power and Dick Ziehnert, trustee of Inland Power. is an international agreement between Canada and the United States for the cooperative development and operation of the water resources of the Columbia River Basin for the benefit of both countries. On December 13, 2013 the United States delivered its regional recommendation for the future of the Columbia River Treaty for when the treaty expires in 2024. The Department of State will use this document to begin a federal policy review process to determine whether to proceed with a Treaty modernization effort with Canada. Our representatives emphasized the importance of this recommendation as the current treaty is grossly imbalanced. It currently obligates the U.S. to send an estimated $250 to $350 million in clean hydropower benefits annually to Canada. This cost is paid by ratepayers, such as Inland members, receiving power from BPA and could increase our future power rates.
“The four Snake River dams provide low cost, clean, renewable energy to the Pacific Northwest.”
to emphasize the benefits of the Snake River dams. The four lower Snake River dams, located in eastern Washington, provide low cost, clean, renewable energy, navigation (i.e. grain barges), agriculture, recreation and job benefits to the Pacific Northwest. Yet, these dams are a focal point to some who continue to lobby and litigate for removing them. Our trustees advocated for the multiple benefits of these dams to the Pacific Northwest as the removal of the Snake River dams would result in a sharp increase in BPA’s wholesale rate to Pacific Northwest customers. Together the Snake River dams produce 1,020 megawatts of reliable low cost energy - enough clean, carbon-free energy to power a city the size of Seattle.
Columbia River Treaty - The group emphasized the
importance of the Columbia River Treaty and asked to expedite the review process. The Columbia River Treaty, signed in 1964,
Federal Land Management Policies -
The group promoted passage of the Electricity Reliability and Protection Act, which includes reform to streamline right-of-way reviews and time limits for federal decision-makers to provide consistency, flexibility and accountability. This would ensure that utilities cannot be held liable for damages if the government fails to allow them to manage vegetation on a right-of-way or adjacent area. The ability to impact change is a huge part of being a member of Inland Power. We work with all elected officials to make sure that your interests are being considered and to ensure that you will always be provided with safe, reliable and affordable electric service. That is the cooperative difference.
i nland powe r is my coope rat ive