Learning Center Electric Power Organizations
Reprinted with permission.
Contains some additions by Chelan County PUD staff.
American Public Power Association (APPA). A nonprofit organization established in 1940, APPA is an advocate for the 2,200 publicly-owned utilities in the United States and its territories. Services to members include lobbying before Congress, publication of a magazine and newsletter, a library, legal assistance, employment assistance, and programs in safety, continuing education, and research and development. Offices and staff are located in Washington, D.C.
Association of Public Agency Customers (APAC). Formed in 1981, APAC is a non-profit association representing its members - industries that purchase power from public agencies - in BPA rate proceedings and rate-related issues. APAC, based in Portland, is composed of nine industrial companies with facilities throughout the region.
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). BPA is the sole federal power marketing agency in the Northwest and the region's major wholesaler of electricity. Created by Congress in 1937, BPA serves the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana west of the continental divide, and small adjacent portions of California, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA markets and transmits power, coordinates operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System, and manages a large portion of the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie. Although it lacks authority to build or own dams or power plants, BPA does own and operate, within its service area, the nation's largest network of long distance, high-voltage transmission lines. Though part of the Department of Energy, BPA is not funded by tax revenues; the agency recovers the cost of operations and maintenance mainly through its electricity rates.
Columbia Storage Power Exchange (CSPE). The CSPE is a nonprofit corporation formed by eight public and three private utilities in 1964 to implement portions of the Columbia River Treaty with Canada. Under the treaty, Canada agreed to build two storage dams and one dam for generation on the upper Columbia, resulting in greater power and flood control benefits at U.S. facilities downstream. Canada receives half of the increased output at U.S. dams - a share referred to as the Canadian Entitlement. Not needing the additional power, Canada sought to sell its entitlement under 30-year contracts to the United States.The CSPE was formed to purchase and market the Canadian Entitlement until needed by Canada. The power purchased by the CSPE is marketed to 41 public and private utilities; some of these have in turn sold their share to other public and private utilities in the Northwest and California.
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). EPRI was organized by the nation's utility industry to manage and coordinate research activities. Founded in 1972, EPRI represents approximately 450 of the nation's public and investor-owned electric utilities. Research areas include advanced power systems, energy and environmental analysis, and nuclear power.
Energy Committee of the Association of Idaho Cities. As outgrowth of a commission organized in the early 1960s to protect the Idaho cities from anti-municipal electric utility legislation, the Energy Committee advises the executive director on energy issues. An energy coordinator is active in state and federal legislative matters and serves as conservation liaison to utilities. Offices are in Boise, Idaho.
Energy Northwest. Energy Northwest, formerly known as the Washington Public Power Supply System (Supply System), is a municipal corporation and joint operating agency of the State of Washington comprised of public utility districts and municipal utilities. Established in January 1957, Energy Northwest is authorized to acquire, construct, and operate plants and facilities for the generation or transmission of electric power. It operates the Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project and WNP-2.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Foundation for Water and Energy Education
Idaho Cooperative Utilities Association (ICUA). ICUA is an Idaho corporation formed in 1942 that represents electric cooperatives operating in Idaho. Originally formed for the purpose of establishing cooperative rural electrification in the state, it now represents its members on issues of common concern such as state and federal legislation, regional power supply, and planning and coordination with regional organizations.
Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities (ICNU). A nonprofit organization formed in 1981 and based in Portland, ICNU represents 40 industrial companies with facilities throughout the Northwest. ICNU members purchase power from the region's public agencies and investor-owned utilities, rather than directly from BPA. Closely affiliated with APAC, which represents members on rate issues, ICNU focuses on policy matters and works actively with the Northwest Power Planning Council, BPA, and the region's utilities. Areas of interest include conservation, cogeneration, forecasting and reliability.
National Hydropower Association
Non-Generating Public Utilities. Formed in 1985, this organization represents certain full requirements customers of BPA. The organization participates in BPA and Northwest Power Planning Council proceedings and in other regional forums. Based in Portland, the organization currently has twenty members from four states.
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Alliance). Formed in October 1996, the Alliance is a non-profit consortium of utilities, governments, public-interest groups, and efficiency industry representatives dedicated to transforming markets for energy-efficient products and services. Its primary goals are to bring about significant and lasting changes in markets for energy-efficient technologies and practices, to improve the efficiency of the region's electricity use and reduce costs to Northwest consumers. The Alliance also hopes to leverage and promote non-energy benefits.
Northwest Hydroelectric Association
Northwest Irrigation Utilities (NIU). This organization of 20 utilities and various irrigation-related agencies was formed in 1978 to advance the interests of cooperatives and PUDs with significant irrigation loads. NIU is a party in BPA rate proceedings and pursues irrigation issues related to such matters as nonfirm power sales and conservation contracts. Located in Portland, NIU interacts with regional planning groups and agricultural groups regarding power use and costs.
Northwest Power Planning Council (Council). The Northwest Power Planning Council was created in 1981 in accordance with the Northwest Power Act of 1980. The Council is a regional planning agency composed of eight members, two each from the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Members are appointed by state governors and confirmed by state legislatures. The Council's primary responsibilities are: 1) to develop a program to "protect, mitigate and enhance" fish and wildlife damaged by hydroelectric development in the Columbia River Basin; 2) to develop a 20-year regional conservation and electric power plan; and 3) to provide for broad public participation in its planning processes. The Council is not a part of BPA nor a federal agency, but an interstate compact agency funded by BPA rates.
Northwest Power Pool (NWPP). The Northwest Power Pool is an association of generating utilities serving the Northwestern United States, British Columbia and Alberta. Members include the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and all public and investor-owned utilities with generating resources. The association dates to 1942, when the United States government directed utilities to coordinate operations in support of wartime production. Activities of the Power Pool are determined by three committees. One deals with coordination of operations, the second with transmission issues and the third with administration of the Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement of 1964. The agreement is a plan for coordinating hydropower generation and determining load carrying capability in the Columbia River Basin.
Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA). Founded in 1941 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1947, NWPPA represents 170 public utilities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Northern California, British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon. NWPPA conducts educational, communications, legislative and service activities. Located in Vancouver, Washington, NWPPA is governed by a board of trustees; staff functions include training, governmental affairs and publications. NWPPA publishes an annual directory of utilities and related organizations.
Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU). This organization was formed in 1995 to represent the interests of customers that place all or much of their loads on the Bonneville Power Administration. The organization consists of both the members of the former Non-Generating Public Utilities group and most of the members of Northwest Irrigation Utilities. NRU represents the interests of its members in Bonneville and other regional forums. The organization currently has 38 members in five states.
Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities. Created in 1977, the group has 10 members, all of which are municipal utilities. The organization represents members at the state legislature and other state agencies. It participates in selected issues before Bonneville and the Northwest Power Planning Council.
Oregon People's Utility District Association (OPUDA). OPUDA was formed in 1982 by Oregon's operating PUDs. Headed by an executive director in Salem, Oregon, the group is a forum for discussion and consideration of power supply, litigation, and legislative issues.
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA). ORECA represents the common interests of the 17 Oregon cooperatives, serving more than 230,000 Oregon customers. With an office and staff in Salem, Oregon, ORECA represents its members in governmental, environmental, and regulatory matters; services include legal counsel, director-manager courses, communications and management assistance.
Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC). The Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative is a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative formed in October 1995 to be an electric power manager and aggregator for its rural electric cooperative members and other electric utility clients. PNGC is a FERC-licensed power marketer that manages power supply, transmission, and resources. PNGC also provides communication, cost of service analysis, rates and load forecasts and other services to its members, as well as representing them on power supply, transmission, environmental and associated policy issues before Bonneville Power Administration, the Northwest Power Planning Council, Congress, and state legislatures and regulatory bodies. Offices and staff are in Portland.
Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC). PNUCC represents the three constituencies in the Northwest energy community: public utilities, investor-owned utilities and direct service industries. It is founded on the premise that there is greater strength in policy development based in strong consensus among the groups. PNUCC provides a forum where its diverse membership can share information and views and work toward consensus on a variety of power and environmental issues that impact resource stability and future energy development. PNUCC draws on the expertise of its membership and staff in the areas of conflict avoidance and resolution; policy development, analysis and advocacy; and technical analysis. PNUCC is governed by a 15-member board elected from the membership.
Power Resources Cooperative (PRC). Power Resources Cooperative manages electric power generating and transmission resources for 14 rural electric distribution cooperatives located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. PRC owns a 50-megawatt share of the Boardman Coal Plant, Boardman, Oregon; a 50-megawatt capacity share of the Third AC Intertie that connects Oregon and California; and the Coffin Butte Resource Project, a 2.5-megawatt landfill-gas electric generating plant located near Corvallis, Oregon. Formed in 1975 and known as Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative until 1996, PRC is completely separate from the new cooperative known as Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative.
Pierce County Cooperative Power Association. The association represents cooperatives in Pierce County, Washington, that purchase power from BPA. The association provides a forum for joint action on matters of mutual interest and for information-sharing and coordinated problem-solving. The organization participates in state legislative matters.
Public Generating Pool (PGP). PGP is an organization of six public utilities who own substantial generating facilities. Members interact with BPA and other regional organizations on wholesale rates, transmission, legislative, and other matters. Members coordinate the transmission of surplus energy from one to another and also work jointly in planning, scheduling, storage, load factoring, and allocation of energy, capacity, and reserves.
Public Power Council (PPC). Formed in 1966, PPC represents and advocates the common legal and technical interests of the Northwest's consumer-owned utilities. PPC interacts with BPA, the Northwest Power Planning Council, and other regional and national groups on subjects including BPA rate proceedings and power marketing policies, public preference issues, power supply planning, conservation, legislative concerns, and related issues. Offices are located in Portland.
Snake River Power Association. The Snake River Power Association is an Idaho cooperative formed in 1957 to deal with problems of increasing wholesale costs and diminishing supply facing southern Idaho preference customers of the Bureau of Reclamation. Currently it focuses on local power supply issues and interacting with other regional organizations.
U.S. General Accounting Office
Washington Public Utility Districts' Association (WPUDA). Founded in 1936, the Washington PUD Association serves PUDs operating electric, sewer and water utility systems in Washington. The Association coordinates action on matters of mutual interest and benefit to its members primarily in the legislative arena. It provides testimony to state and congressional committees and compiles and distributes information on its member districts. The organization publishes a newsletter that covers utility activities as well as regional and national issues. Offices are located in Seattle.
Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA). The WRECA is an organization formed to consider issues and goals common to electric cooperatives in Washington. The association, composed of nine cooperatives, is active on such issues as state taxes and participates in state legislative matters.
Western Electric Power Institute. Formed in 1908, the Power Institute (formerly NELPA), represents investor-owned utilities in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. Power Institute members include 12 investor-owned utilities, and more than 2,000 corporate and individual members (such as suppliers and consultants). The institute conducts educational meetings, carries out studies, and collects and distributes data on electric power issues. Offices and staff are in Portland.
Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Western Montana Generating and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. This cooperative was incorporated in 1980. It represents the interest of its members in the planning, programs and practices of the Northwest Power Planning Council and the Bonneville Power Administration to retain the benefits of low-cost hydroelectric generation in the Pacific Northwest, while adding the most cost-effective resources. The members of the Western Montana Generating and Transmission Cooperative are six rural electric cooperatives, each of which receives its requirements of wholesale power from Bonneville.
Western Public Agency Group (WPAG). Formed in 1980, the Western Public Agency Group is an association of 16 Washington and Oregon public utilities that is involved with Bonneville rate proceedings and policy review issues. WPAG has no operational responsibilities.
Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC). WSCC was formed in 1967 and is the largest of the nine regional electric reliability councils that comprise the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC). WSCC is an international organization that promotes electric service reliability, providing the forum for its member systems to enhance communication, coordination, and cooperation. Membership is voluntary and open to all qualified electric systems within the region. WSCC's Agreement includes membership provisions for public utilities and independent power producers. Its region encompasses approximately 1.8 million square miles, providing substantially all of the electric service to the 59 million people in the region. WSCC's 62 member systems include investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, public power systems, federal agencies, Canadian systems and one Mexican system; affiliate members include one municipal utility, two public power systems, and one independent power producer.