One of the most important words in the electric utility industry is “certainty.” We want certainty that the electricity we provide is clean, affordable and reliable. Throughout the years, we have had this certainty because of our longstanding relationship with the Bonneville Power Administration, which markets the output from federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

However, current litigation pertaining to the hydropower system has created more uncertainty than ever before when it comes to providing you affordable, reliable electricity.

Plaintiffs—including the state of Oregon—have, for years, used the courtroom to increase BPA’s investment in fish and wildlife programs, even though BPA customers spend $685 million annually on these programs. In fact, approximately one-eighth of your electricity bill is the result of BPA spending on fish and wildlife.

We recently learned about a secret agreement between the plaintiffs and the federal government that could saddle BPA customers with billions of dollars in new costs. One estimate predicts the electricity we buy from BPA could increase by up to 50%. This increase primarily reflects the cost of building replacement renewable generation because the agreement proposes breaching the lower Snake River dams.

What is so disappointing is this agreement was made without input from organizations that represent Northwest public power. Nor does this agreement provide certainty against further litigation that could skyrocket wholesale power costs even more. In the agreement, the cost of electricity and grid reliability take a back seat as the parties drive to breach the LSRDs for the benefit of fish.

We need your help to put some common sense and transparency in this process. We need our elected leaders—such as Gov. Tina Kotek and our congressional delegation—to stand up for our communities that depend on federal hydropower. If they don’t, the only thing certain is the electricity we provide you will be less affordable and less reliable.

We encourage you to voice your opposition to any efforts to undermine our incredible Northwest hydro system. Go to voicesforcooperativepower.com/protectourpower.

Brent Bischoff General Manager and CEO