Customers' rate credit to become larger

Starting November 1, 2008, Benton PUD customers’ temporary rate credit that has been a line item on their bill since June 1, 2008 will increase. 

Residential customers’ credit on their monthly bill will now be $.0055 per kWh used.  General Service customers’ credits will range from $.0055 to $.0066 per kWh used, up from $.004.  Large Irrigation customers received a line item credit of $.0020 per kWh for three months (June – August) due to their seasonal energy usage with a final payment to be distributed in November.  The credit will expire May 31, 2009, after the BPA funds have been dispersed. more

Benton PUD received approximately $ 8 million from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in two payments due to the interim relief payment agreement associated with the Residential Exchange.  Benton PUD received approximately $6.4 million in April with the balance due paid to Benton PUD in October at the conclusion of the BPA 2007 Supplemental Rate case.  The customer rate credit was adjusted to reflect the final payment received from BPA this week. 

The payment to Benton PUD was part of the proposed $316 million BPA agreed to pay to public utilities in the Northwest.  The Residential Exchange Program was established in 1980 in the Northwest Power Act to share access to low-cost hydropower with investor owned utilities’ residential and farm customers. In May, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that BPA had exceeded its authority and failed to follow the Act in determining residential exchange benefits for the region’s investor-owned utilities.