PR 78 05 BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, Oct. 3, 2005 Contact: Ed Mosey | , BPA (503)-230-5131     Forecast shows modest NW electricity surpluses; Independent generators play key role PORTLAND, Ore. - An updated edition of BPA's Pacific Northwest Loads and Resources "White Book" reflects the expanding role of independent power producers in meeting the region's demand growth now and in the future. The forecast identifies about 3,110 average megawatts of power from non utility suppliers through 2015. That's about 15 percent of the total supply located in the region. "The question is how much of the power generated by independent suppliers will stay here rather than be sold outside of the Northwest." said Steve Wright, BPA administrator. "If half of that supply is made available here, the region should have sufficient power to meet its needs until 2010. With both utilities and independent suppliers in the mix, we need to begin planning now so we avoid shortages and price volatility in years ahead." Although the forecast does not address transmission, power lines play a key role in providing adequate supplies, Wright said. The West Coast has become a highly integrated market with electricity moving over the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie. Power also crosses the Continental Divide, flowing between the West Coast and Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. "Meeting future demand depends on adequate infrastructure - both generators and transmission lines," Wright said. "BPA and other regional utilities are now in the process of planning more coordinated operation and expansion of the Western transmission grid. And both utilities and independent power producers are considering additional wind, gas- and coal-fired generation." Wright said BPA and the federal system, if considered independently of the rest of the Northwest's energy supply, is forecast to have adequate power supplies through 2009 even under low-water conditions. The federal system comprises 31 federal dams mainly in the Columbia Basin and one nuclear plant. The agency has no plans to acquire additional generating resources at this time. "In our ongoing Regional Dialogue with our utility customers and other stakeholders, we are asking what role they would like BPA to play as power supplies tighten," Wright said. "Will they rely on BPA to meet load growth for them? Or will they arrange for their own supplies?" BPA plans to adopt new policies late next year. Those policies will guide BPA in negotiating proposed new 20-year contracts, which could take effect sometime before current contracts expire in 2011. Copies of the 2004 White Book are available from BPA's Public Information Center, toll-free at 1 (800)622-4520 and electronically at the BPA Web site at www.bpa.gov/power/whitebook2004 Submitted for distribution on 10-03-2005 at 2:58 PM

Bonneville Power Administration, 905 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232 Mailing Address: Media Relations - DM7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621 Phone: (503)230-5131 FAX: (503) 230-5884 Web Site: http://www.bpa.gov