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The Bonneville Power Administration is a federal agency, under the U.S. Department of Energy, that markets wholesale electrical power and operates and markets transmission services in the Pacific Northwest. The power comes from 31 federal hydro projects, one nonfederal nuclear plant and several other small nonfederal power plants. The hydro projects and the electrical system are known as the Federal Columbia River Power System. About 45 percent of the electric power used in the Northwest comes from BPA. BPA’s transmission system accounts for about three-fourths of the region’s high-voltage grid, and includes major transmission links with other regions.

BPA is a self-funding agency, which pays for its costs through power and transmission sales. Both power and transmission are sold at cost, and BPA repays any borrowing from the U.S. Treasury with interest.

BPA’s customers include publicly owned and investor-owned utilities, as well as some large industries. BPA also sells or exchanges power with utilities in Canada and the western United States.

Revenues BPA earns help it fulfill public responsibilities that include low-cost and reliable power and investments in energy conservation and renewable resources. BPA also funds the region’s efforts to protect and rebuild fish and wildlife populations in the Columbia River Basin.