List of Concerns/Issues from Subscription Update Meeting on November 25, 1997
General Observations/Concerns
- Secure Tribal involvement and ensure their interests are reflected
- Customers are concerned about the preservation of public preference
- Secure the interests of small farm and residential customers
of IOUs
- Develop backup plan for over and under subscription
Implementation
- Add straight option (purchase option in first 5 years for second
5 years)
- Add option for customer who wants to purchase from BPA now
- Pre-subscription purchase
- Decide well before period and let BPA know size of purchase
and length to avoid option fee
- How do customers survive in near term to get to long term?
- Why should Tribe sign 5-year contract with BPA? Should they
play market?
- Is subscription to protect BPA or is it good and helps end use
consumer or utilities (low cost rates/stable economy)?
- Allow customers to join together to share risk of load loss
- Clarify definition of small customer (where BPA takes risk of
load loss)
- How do we protect exchange loads (residential and small farm
loads of IOUs) from being bumped by preference purchases?
- How do exit fees get factored into right to BPA power? They
helped keep BPA financially healthy -- shouldn't they be counted like an option
fee?
- If customers pay stranded cost does this qualify as option fee?
How do these work together?
- Consider carefully penalty and rewards for signing early. Early
signers should not be penalized.
- Develop rules and stick to them through the process
Products and Services
- BPA/subscription success is dependent on products/services meeting
customers' needs
- "Delivered power" - does this include negotiated Transmission
with or without GTA? How does this work with BPA coming under FERC approval?
- Customers want customized products
- Think about competitive market and be creative in case of non-subscription
Pricing
- Tie/index BPA price to COB or mid-Columbia
- Need ceiling price/guarantee for long-term (10-year) purchase
- Need documentation for speculation about BPA meeting market or beating market
- If customers step up to protect BPA (cover costs) now, Federal legislation should recognize this.
Return to Summary of the November 25 Subscription Update Meeting
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