HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Millersburg, consider the Power Act

Written November 20th, 2013 by Hasso Hering
Millersburg faces big decisions about electricity.

Millersburg faces big decisions about electricity.

If Millersburg goes ahead and tries to take over the electricity business within its borders and expel Pacific Power, condemnation and a court battle over the takeover price won’t be the only hurdles. Also there is likely to be a fight, possibly a long one, in federal court over the Northwest Power Act of 1980.
That federal legislation among many other things allowed Oregon residential and farm customers of investor-owned utilities to benefit from a portion of the power sold by the Bonneville Power Administration. Utilities such as Pacific Power are able to pass the benefits on to those users, but not to commercial or industrial customers.
The largest beneficiary of the Millersburg proposal in terms of money would be Wah Chang, the metals manufacturer and big mid-valley employer, which is funding the power supply study for the town of 1,340. Because of that, Pacific contends the Millersburg proposal would violate the Power Act. Millersburg’s lawyers disagree, naturally. But only federal judges can say whether it does or doesn’t, and the question might not be resolved until it’s decided by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
There are many other aspects of this takeover proposal that Millersburg has to consider before going ahead. But if the Power Act makes Wah Chang ineligible for preference power, even when bought indirectly via Millersburg, then the entire plan falls apart. (hh)

This version is corrected for the date of the Power Act and in the description of its benefits to Oregon customers. (hh)





Comments are closed.

 

 
HH Today: A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley
Albany Albany City Council Albany council Albany downtown Albany Fire Department Albany housing Albany parks Albany Planning Commission Albany police Albany Post Office Albany Public Works Albany riverfront Albany schools Albany Station Albany streets Albany traffic Albany urban renewal apartments ARA Benton County bicycling bike lanes Bowman Park Bryant Park Calapooia River CARA climate change COVID-19 Cox Creek Cox Creek path Crocker Lane cumberland church cycling Dave Clark Path DEQ downtown Albany Edgewater Village Highway 20 homeless housing Interstate 5 land use Linn County Millersburg Monteith Riverpark North Albany ODOT Oregon coast Oregon legislature Pacific Power Portland & Western Queen Avenue Republic Services Riverside Drive Santiam Canal Scott Lepman Talking Water Gardens The Banks Tom Cordier Union Pacific urban renewal Water Avenue Waterfront Project Waverly Lake Willamette River


Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved. Hasso Hering.
Website Serviced by Santiam Communications
Hasso Hering