Bonneville says it will stick to 46% rate increase Oct. 1

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August 30, 2001

Al Gibbs; The News Tribune 

The Bonneville Power Administration won't tack an additional 5 percent surcharge on wholesale electricity prices this fall after all.

The federal power marketing agency had announced it will raise rates by about 46 percent beginning Oct. 1, and said the price might go even higher because its finances were hurting.

But actual budget figures, rather than financial projections, indicate the agency is in slightly better financial shape than once thought, said BPA spokesman Ed Mosey.

"It was a very close call," he said.

Tacoma Power superintendent Steve Klein questioned that logic.

"It looks like they raised a big stick over nothing and got hammered (by utility customers' protests), so they backed down," Klein said.

- Al Gibbs, The News Tribune