HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 3358 CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 3358
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
OBJECTING TO THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION'S
("BPA") CURRENT ALLOCATION PROPOSAL AND REQUESTING THAT
BPA MEET ITS STATUTORY OBLIGATION AND ALLOCATE ALL OF
THE POWER RESOURCES NOT RESERVED FOR BPA PREFERENCE
CUSTOMERS TO THE RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL FARM CUSTOMERS
OF NORTHWEST INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES.
WHEREAS, the Bonneville Power Administration ("BPA") is charged with selling all of the
electricity generated at the federal dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries; and
WHEREAS, under the Northwest Regional Power Act and other statutes, BPA has an
obligation to provide federal power benefits to the residential and small farm customers of Northwest
investor-owned utilities; and
WHEREAS, BPA currently sells some of the lowest cost electricity in the nation, and a
recent analysis by the Northwest Power Planning Council indicates that in the future, BPA power
should be less expensive than alternative supplies; and
WHEREAS, BPA will allocate 6,300 average megawatts (aMW) of post 2001 firm power
supplies in a subscription process and intends to sign those contracts as early as November, 1998;
and
WHEREAS, BPA has proposed to allocate up to 5,500 aMW to public agencies, which are
BPA preference customers, but expects 1,000 aMW of firm power, in addition to 1,000 aMW of
interruptible power, to be available for direct service industries such as aluminum companies; and
WHEREAS,BPA has proposed to reserve only 1,500 aMW of federal power benefits to the
Northwest residential and small farm customers of investor-owned utilities and the amount is far
short of what is necessary to adequately serve the load; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 3358
WHEREAS,BPA has acknowledged that it is statutorily obligated to provide the benefits of
federal power to investor-owned utilities' residential and small farm loads, and that it does not have a
statutory obligation to sell power to direct service industries;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above findings are true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The City Council objects to BPA's current allocation proposal.
SECTION III. The City Council insists that BPA meet its statutory obligation and allocate
all of the power resources not reserved for BPA preference customers to the residential and small
farm customers of Northwest investor-owned utilities.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 19tlday of October , 1998.
t
Marilyn J. 'et0 en, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 19t1llay of October , 1998.
Jes anner, Mayor
Approved a orm:
G
Lawrence J. Warren, City"Attorney
RES.690*:10/13/98:as.
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