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[CU 1431 / March 8, 2010]
Court Awards Energy NW $57M for Building Nuke Waste Storage Facility
The U.S. Court of Claims ruled late last month that the U.S. Department of Energy owes Energy Northwest nearly $57 million in damages to cover the cost of building an on-site facility to store spent nuclear fuel from its 1150-MW Columbia Generating Station. The judgment was six years in the making, including a 2006 breach-of-contract decision against DOE for not having a national waste repository ready in 1998, a trial in 2009, and another year for the judge to chew over the facts.
PacifiCorp Oregon Rate Cases Cover Transmission, Wind and Power Costs
PacifiCorp asked the Oregon PUC last week for a 13.1-percent general rate increase that would raise revenues by $130.6 million, less than a week after filing for a 7-percent Transition Adjustment Mechanism to cover $69.2 million in power costs. The general rate case includes the cost of the first stage of the Energy Gateway Transmission project, a pair of wind farms, and upgrading the emissions control system at a coal plant.
BPA Signed 20-Year, Multi-Million-Dollar BEF Deal Without Public Notice
BPA customers say they intend to "get to the bottom" of why BPA negotiated and signed a 20-year, multi-million-dollar funding agreement with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation without seeking public input or providing any notice of the deal. BPA said its failure to post the contract on its Web site was a mistake, but added the agreement does "not represent a significant net impact on rates." It posted the contract in late February, more than a year after it was signed, and only after inquiries made on behalf of the Canby Utility Board.
Poor Snowpack Cuts Seattle City Light Revenue Forecast by $70MThe eighth lowest snowpack in the last 50 years has put a $70-million dent in Seattle City Light's 2010 revenue forecast. While the muni has plenty of power to meet customer needs, the low snowpack means there will be less hydro power--and less surplus to sell on the market than the utility had originally forecast. The Seattle City Council has asked City Light to look at ways to trim spending and is also considering establishing a $100-million rate stabilization fund.
Also In Clearing Up This Week . . .
- Washington Legislature Enters Home Stretch
- Court Denies Rehearing, Affirms "Sound Business Principles" Test
- TRECs Debate Centers on Out-of-State Power Deals
- Pendleton Developing Residential Solar Plan; PGE Adds Rooftop Project
...And Much More!
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