BPA distributed the following article to employees following a July 13 Integrated Program Review meeting with customer utilities and trade group representatives, who described the gravity of economic challenges their communities face. The article describes the clear message from customers that BPA employees must look carefully for ways to reduce costs and limit the impacts of BPA rates on Northwest communities.
What Happened in 2009
In March 2009, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) concluded a condensed version of the Integrated Program Review (IPR), commonly referred to as IPR2. This process took into account the global financial market crisis and the state of the U.S. economy at that time. Given the unprecedented economic conditions and low power market prices coupled with continuing poor hydro conditions BPA chose to expand the scope of the 2009 IPR2 to address risk mitigation and liquidity tools in addition to reviewing updated program spending estimates for FY 2010-11. The IPR2 process went hand-in-glove with the power rate case process identifying opportunities to reduce the potential WP-10 rate increase. BPA greatly appreciates the attention and input provided by customers in the IPR2 process.
What to Expect in 2010
The 2010 IPR is intended to provide participants with:
- Long Term Asset Strategies for Transmission, Federal Hydro, IT and Facilities.
- BPA's current proposed spending estimates for expense through FY 2013 and capital through FY 2017.
- An opportunity to comment on proposed spending estimates and suggest changes.
- Updated FY 2011 program levels will be provided.
- Risk mitigation and liquidity tools will not be discussed in the 2010 IPR process, those discussions in IPR2 were the result of circumstances in 2009.
- The IPR process will kickoff on May 10, 2010 with an Overview Workshop from 9-12pm in the Rates Hearing Room.
- A public comment period for proposed spending levels will be included. The comment period opens May 10, 2010 and will close on July 29, 2010.
Public Materials for 2010 IPR
Letter to IPR Participants (Process Improvement Study)
2010 Final IPR Close-Out Letter & Report
Customer comments for the 2010 IPR |
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Finance & Rates
