The surcharge did not trigger for BPA’s transmission customers in FY 2020 and was not expected to trigger for FY 2021. BPA also is streamlining the process for customers to request payment extensions if they are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 and are unable to pay their bills. As states across the Northwest begin to relax some of the social distancing requirements put in effect to reduce the threat of COVID-19, the Bonneville Power Administration is beginning its own phased. The effort to restart these projects requires considerable coordination across multiple organizations internally and externally, as well as a logistical effort to return equipment, supplies and personnel to sites.
From mid-March to present day, more than 3,000 members of the BPA workforce have been connected daily and working remotely.This continued emphasis on social distancing helps keep our workforce healthy and protects our mission to ensure the reliable delivery of power to load and the operation of the electrical grid.BPA's Incident Management Team continues to monitor local, regional and national conditions and is following guidance established by the U.S. Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local and state authorities and health departments. The Bonneville Power Administration, from which the Cowlitz PUD purchases most of its power, on Thursday announced a proposed wholesale power rate … While a few, select construction projects were allowed to proceed or start due to safety or system criticality concerns, most were suspended as a social distancing measure. An Oregonian/OregonLive analysis of Bonneville Power Administration data shows that power demand has risen modestly since the governors of … This is available to all power and transmission customers on a case-by-case basis. BPA Power Services also has the Flexible Priority Firm Rate Option through the end of FY 2020, which is available to Regional Dialogue customers interested in shaping a portion of their FY 2020 bills into FY 2021.“We offer these measures to our customers to be a responsive business partner,” said BPA Chief Operating Officer John Hairston. This is not a waiver of the bill, but extends the payment out, with interest, for up to three years. Financial reserves, which are defined as cash on hand, short-term investments and deferred borrowing, also plays a role in how agencies determine BPA’s credit rating.“Maintaining reserves is a staple of financial strength,” said Michelle Manary, BPA Chief Financial Officer. Bonneville Power Offers Rate Relief For Customers Due To COVID-19 Impacts; Suspends Reserves Surcharge July 2, 2020 The Bonneville Power Administration this week issued a decision to suspend its financial reserves surcharge through September 2021.
It also markets the As states across the Northwest begin to relax some of the social distancing requirements put in effect to reduce the threat of COVID-19, the Bonneville Power Administration is beginning its own phased approach to return its workforce to facilities.Transmission Field Districts across BPA's service territory opened on June 1, meaning field crews are re-engaging in routine maintenance, line patrols and compliance work. The transmission system of the Bonneville Power Administration would be sold off under the proposed federal budget for next year released by President Donald Trump’s administration… The relief could come as early as this month if FERC issues an immediate interim rate approval.BPA uses financial reserves as a tool to maintain financial health and mitigate financial risk, as it allows BPA to continue to meet all payment obligations when its sales revenues fall short of forecast. These jobs often require specialized equipment and software or access to data that cannot be obtained remotely.Whether in the field or a facility, these members of our workforce continue to take appropriate social distancing measures into their work environment.Personnel who are capable of teleworking continue to do so to maximize social distancing and minimize the risk of COVID-19.
“We believe we have found a range of options that help customers without harming our bottom line in the long term.”BPA established the financial reserves policy surcharge in its BP-20 rate proceeding as a way to build up cash reserves when they fall below a certain threshold. “But given the significant challenges customers are facing, we agree this is not the time to be building up cash reserves.”This is not the only relief measure BPA is offering its customers.
. The surcharge triggered for BPA power customers for FY 2020 and was expected to trigger again in FY 2021. . The groups will also prepare for summer by working on wildfire mitigation projects. Since BPA closed its field offices in mid-March, these crews have been on call to respond only to emergency outages and other work necessary for life safety and grid reliability.In direct support of the field work, portions of Aircraft Services and Transmission Technology groups have returned also.On June 2, BPA allowed other members of its workforce who can't perform their jobs remotely to return to facilities and re-engage in their onsite work. BPA will work with customers to develop new timelines, prioritizations and expectations for other construction projects that may be impacted by the pandemic. BPA has the mechanisms and protocols in place to further ease social distancing restrictions or ramp up its response level if circumstances dictate.Later this month, BPA will begin the process of restarting construction projects that had been put on pause as of March 19. “The steps we have taken in recent years to sustain BPA’s financial health make it possible for us to provide some measure of relief to our power customers as they work to address the economic consequences of the pandemic.”The suspension of the surcharge, once approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is expected to provide relief to BPA’s power customers totaling about $3 million per month for the remainder of FY 2020, and $30 million over FY 2021.