Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) opposes the President’s budget plan to require the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to use surplus revenues to pay down its federal debt.  The proposal would stop BPA from using revenue from surplus power sales to lower electricity rates for consumers in the Pacific Northwest.  Revenues from surplus power sales, beyond a certain level, would instead be used to pay off BPA’s debt to the federal treasury.     

BPA currently supplies around 70 percent of all the electricity consumed in Washington state. 

“President Bush’s proposal is unfair to the taxpayers in Washington state who have been burdened with high electricity rates for many years.  My constituents are already paying high electricity rates and this proposal only magnifies the problem.

“The President cannot balance the budget on the backs of working families already struggling to pay their electric bills.

Congressman Larsen represents Washington State’s 2nd Congressional District. 

###