Bonneville Power Administration's wholesale power and transmission rates for the FY 2016-2017 rate period were established in the BP-16 Rate Case. The rate proceeding, conducted through a formal process described in Section 7(i) of the Northwest Power Act, concluded when the Administrator signed the Final Record of Decision on July 23, 2015.

 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted interim approval of the Power Rate Schedules and General Rate Schedule Provisions (revised 12/02/2015) and the Transmission, Ancillary and Control Area Service Rate Schedules and General Rate Schedule Provisions on September 17, 2015.  Subject to final approval from the Commission, these rates will be in effect from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2017 (FY 2016-2017).

BPA establishes rates to be charged for power and transmission services in a rate proceeding, a formal evidentiary hearing process. Prior to the development of BPA's rates in a rate proceeding, BPA determines its spending levels through a public process, the Integrated Program Review (IPR). BPA’s initial rate proposal is then prepared based on the outcome of the IPR. BPA's rates must be set so that BPA will be able to recover its total costs, including obligations to repay its debt to the Federal Treasury. BPA's initial rate proposal is then evaluated in a rate proceeding during which BPA staff presents its rate proposal to customers and other parties for review. At the conclusion of the rate proceeding, the Administrator issues a Final Record of Decision, which includes BPA's final rates. BPA then files its final rates with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for confirmation and approval .