263 



ways. But it's encouraging that he talks about making BPA a more 

 result-oriented agency and that's certainly what's needed. 



I like the concept that he talks about that everything is on the 

 table and we do need to look at things like tiered rates, which, 

 prior to now, Bonneville just hasn't been willing to do that. So I 

 think there's a lot of encouraging things out there and I think we 

 can look forward to the future, hopefully. And this sort of hearing 

 helps, in my opinion. 



Mr. Eldridge. I would suggest that the Power Planning Council 

 do the same kind of soul searclung that Bonneville is doing and re- 

 assessing their reason for existence and their effectiveness and 

 what do they need to do to be a consensus-builder and draw us to- 

 gether. I think that would be well worth their effort. 



Mr. DeFazio. Do you think the current construct of the Council 

 could lead to that? Do you think there's any reformulation of the 

 contract of the Coimcil that will be required? It's a real experiment 

 in sort of a multi-state advisory body. It's fairly unique. 



Mr. Eldridge. That's a really difficult question. When two mem- 

 bers from each state are elected in our own state, the whole state 

 is not very well represented. It was borne of pohtics. The chief po- 

 Utical officer in each state appoints who he thinks are going to fol- 

 low his direction. 



It is possible. The Governors, I believe, would have to make the 

 commitment to their Council members; we want this to work for 

 the good of the region. And then I think, yes, it could happen. 



Mr. DeFazio. i^ything anybody feels they need to add or qual- 

 ify? 



[No response.] 



Mr. DeFazio. Thanks very much. I appreciate the simount of 

 time you gave us in testimony. I'm going to call up Ron Wilkerson 

 with the next panel, even though it's going to make it a little 

 crowded. We'll let Ron get access to a microphone and speak and 

 then I'll ask him a question, if appropriate, and then we'll let him 

 go get his plane. 



PANEL CONSISTING OF RON WILKERSON, MANAGER, WEST- 

 ERN MONTANA ELECTRIC GENERATING & TRANSMISSION 

 COOPERATIVE, INC., MISSOULA, MT; JACK WRIGHT, AREA 

 MANAGER, PROVEN ALTERNATIVES, INC., LAKE OSWEGO, 

 OR; GERALD R. ALDERSON, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECU- 

 TIVE OFFICER, KENETECHAJ.S. WINDPOWER, SAN FRAN- 

 CISCO, CA; PAUL HATHAWAY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, 

 NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO.; STEPHEN F. JOHNSON, EX- 

 ECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON PUBLIC UTILITY DIS- 

 TRICTS ASSOCIATION, ACCOMPANIED BY STEPHEN W. 

 ROMJUE, CHAIR OF THE BOARD, CONSERVATION AND RE- 

 NEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM; AND RICHARD ESTEVES, VICE 

 PRESIDENT, SESCO, INC., LAKE FOREST, NJ 



Mr. Wilkerson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the 

 special consideration to allow me to return home tonight. 



Mr. DeFazio. I've been in Congress I don't know how many years 

 now, it seems like a lot, but it's only about 6V2, and I've put on 

 more than a miUion miles. I'm very sympathetic to anybody who 



