[5]
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation
Higher prices for power and surplus electricity generated by the federal hydropower system, including Bonneville Power Administration, brought $500 million more into federal coffers, the bulk of which will be returned to ratepayers. BPA Administrator John Hairston supported recommendations from staff to use $350 to lower rates for customers, put $100 million debt reduction, and set aside $50 for fish and wildlife programs.
The rate reduction comes after in times past, BPA had multiple consecutive years of rate increases [6].