Published: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
BPA power sale plan draws fire
PASCO — A proposal by Bonneville Power Administration to sell electricity at a reduced rate to two aluminum smelters and a paper company has been criticized by the Franklin County Public Utilities District.
BPA has proposed selling energy at a rate of $34.60 per megawatt hour to Columbia Falls Aluminum Co, based in Columbia Falls, Mont., to Alcoa Inc., which has a plant in Ferndale, and to Port Townsend Paper Co.
Ed Brost, general manager of the Franklin PUD, said that rate is significantly lower than what the companies would pay if they bought power on the market or from a local utility district that purchases power from BPA and resells it to consumers.
BPA spokeswoman Katie Pruder told the Tri-City Herald that BPA’s wholesale customers usually pay an average rate of $28.77 per megawatt hour.
BPA has proposed selling energy at a rate of $34.60 per megawatt hour to Columbia Falls Aluminum Co, based in Columbia Falls, Mont., to Alcoa Inc., which has a plant in Ferndale, and to Port Townsend Paper Co.
Ed Brost, general manager of the Franklin PUD, said that rate is significantly lower than what the companies would pay if they bought power on the market or from a local utility district that purchases power from BPA and resells it to consumers.
BPA spokeswoman Katie Pruder told the Tri-City Herald that BPA’s wholesale customers usually pay an average rate of $28.77 per megawatt hour.
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