We applaud The Herald for its excellent analysis of BPA’s proposed settlement of the lawsuit brought by consumer-owned utilities. (“BPA settlement would set a bad precedent – PUD should reject it,” editorial, Nov. 9.) We agree that it is wrong to sacrifice our future for the sake of a small, short-term rate decrease.
The undersigned PUD commissioners are fully committed to developing a settlement that is fair to all parties – one that provides real, long-term rate relief to all ratepayers in the Northwest. This settlement can and must address the root cause of the bad situation we find ourselves in. We are convinced this is possible only if we all agree to abide by a fair reading of the 1980 Regional Power Act.
BPA’s blatant disregard of federal statute has resulted in a six-fold increase in subsidies to private utilities since 2001. Customers of consumer-owned utilities have been forced to pick up the tab through enormous rate increases. A settlement that does not address this injustice is not a settlement at all – it is an outrage.
This letter was signed by the following public utility district commissioners: Tom Casey, Jim Eddy and Frank Moses, Grays Harbor PUD No. 1; Rick Buechel, Ron Gold, Linda Gott, Jack Janda, Bruce Jorgenson and John Whalen, Mason County PUD No. 3; Gregg Caudell, Ferry County PUD; Ronald Hatfield, Pacific County PUD; Ned Piper, Cowlitz County PUD; and Will Purser and Ted Simpson, Clallam County PUD.
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