Protecting Hydropower
Dear Members of United Electric Co-op,
On February 25, Oregon District Court Judge Michael Simon issued a preliminary injunction order that will have detrimental operational impacts on the Northwest hydropower system. This order is in response to court filings made by the state of Oregon, tribes, and several environmental advocacy groups. Among several directives from the court’s order is a dramatic increase in spill through the hydro system.
For generations, hydropower from the Columbia and Snake rivers has served as the backbone of the Northwest, providing our co-op with affordable, reliable, and carbon-free electricity. Today, the management of this vital system is again the target of litigation focused on mandating federal dams to spill more water—directing it over spillways to assist fish passage rather than through turbines to generate electricity—and draw down reservoirs to reduce the amount of electricity the hydroelectric system generates.
In fact, the federal district court in Oregon has issued such an order mandating more spill. While protecting salmon runs remains a foundational regional priority, these proposals have not been scientifically proven to help salmon and other fish species. However, the economic and operational consequences are certain. Analyses from Bonneville Power Administration, Northwest Requirements Utilities, and Public Power Council estimate court-ordered spill increases could raise regional power costs by more than $140,000,000. BPA estimates these costs will equate to a 7% rate hike for its community-owned utility customers.
Because of the direct relationship between the hydro system and the region’s transmission grid and its reliability, this lost capacity directly translates to an increased likelihood of a transmission system emergency and ultimately puts the region at much greater risk of blackouts.
These proposals will increase electric costs and reduce reliability for our community and millions of electric customers throughout the region.
These financial pressures and reliability impacts arrive at a precarious time. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation warns of tightening power supplies and growing resource adequacy risks across the West. In this environment, the flexibility of hydropower is more critical than ever for grid stability.
The Northwest deserves a balanced path forward, 1 that honors our commitment to fish recovery without sacrificing the reliable, affordable hydropower that sustains our communities.
United Electric Co-op is working with our state and regional partners, including Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association, Northwest Requirements Utilities, Northwest Irrigation Utilities, NW RiverPartners, Northwest Public Power Association, Public Power Council, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, to do what we can to reduce costs and reliability impacts on you, our members.
Sincerely,
General Manager Michael Darrington