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Vote on power rate increase today

PacifiCorp rate increase would help fund removal of Klamath dams  

 
By TY BEAVER
H&N Staff Writer
February 5, 2008
 
   State Sen.  Jason Atkinson won’t say how he’ll vote on a bill raising power rates to help pay for removal of four Klamath River dams.
 
   The Republican from Central Point has family connections to the Klamath Basin. He said it was emotional to hear testimony Tuesday from old friends both for and against the legislation. 
 
   “This is far more delicate and far more intricate than anything that will come before the Legislature,” he said.

   Those who testified Tuesday said the hearing on the bill was civil and professional, as well as emotionally charged. 
 
   The Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee votes on the bill today and could send it to the Senate floor as early as next week. 
 
   Those who testified Tuesday said the hearing on the bill was civil and professional, as well as emotionally charged.

   The bill would direct the state’s Public Utilities Commission to raise PacifiCorp’s rates. The increase would generate $180 million over 10 years to help remove the four dams. PacifiCorp has said that the increase would raise the average Oregon customer’s bill by about $1.50 a month. Agricultural power users would see about a 2 percent increase in their bill. 

   The $180 million, along with $20 million from PacifiCorp’s ratepayers in other states, would be combined with $250 million in yet-to-be approved bonds from the state of California. 

   If dam removal does not take place, money collected through rates to pay for it would be returned to ratepayers. 
   
       State Sen. Doug Whitsett, R -Klamath Falls, said he wished the hearing had focused less on a broader water settlement package, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, and more on the bill’s specific impacts. One of his concerns is that the bill doesn’t address the potential cost of removing sediment built up behind the dams. 

   Klamath Tribes council member Jeff Mitchell said the bill’s supporters are pleased that aspects of the restoration agreement are coming out as legislation. The restora
agreement, among other things, allocates water among Klamath River Basin stakeholders. 

   Both Whitsett and Mitchell said they felt the committee received enough information to make a decision. 

   If the committee approves the bill, it will go before the full Senate for a vote, before going to the House. If rejected, Mitchell said proponents would have to regroup and consider their options. 

    “I don’t think any of us want to have that discussion. We don’t plan on having that discussion,” he said.
 
 

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