BPA to Announce 'Painful' Conservation

Portland, OR -- A strategy that includes some "painful" steps necessary to keep the Pacific Northwest power grid humming this summer has been unveiled by the Bonneville Power Administration. The BPA, which markets about half of the electricity consumed in the region, scheduled a news conference in Portland Monday afternoon to outline steps necessary to avoid rate increases of more than 100 percent. "Some of these steps are painful, but, unless we take action now, we face consequences that I believe are unacceptable," said acting BPA Administrator Steve Wright. The Portland Oregonian reported Monday that the steps include urging utilities to institute tier-based rates to encourage conservation, and working with the aluminum smelters in the region to reduce the huge amounts of electricity they use. The rainy Pacific Northwest is generally rich in low-cost hydroelectric power, however an ongoing drought in the area as well as California's need for imported power has forced the BPA to plan a stricter rationing of their water resources. A cold snap in Pacific Northwest reduced the amount of power available for export to California on Monday, prompting the California Independent System Operator to declare a Stage Two power alert in the state. If power reserves in California decline further, a Stage Three alert that contains provisions for rolling blackouts would be issued.