264 



has to get on an airplane. I have to get on one tomorrow. Go right 

 ahead. 



Mr. WiLKERSON. Go right ahead. 



Mr. DeFazio. Everybody just sort of settle. 



Mr. WiLKERSON. I think I'm by myself, right? 



Mr. DeFazio. They can settle down around you there. We won't 

 have enough chairs or it will be crowded. But we're going to have 

 you testify and then 111 ask questions, if appropriate, and then 

 we'll let you go. 



STATEMENT OF RON WILKERSON 



Mr. WiLKERSON. Mr. Chairman, may name is Ron Wilkerson. I 

 serve as Manager of an organization called the Western Montana 

 Electric Generating & Transmission Cooperative, more commonly 

 called the Western Montana G&T, headquartered in Missoula, 

 Montana. 



My organization represents the interests of six rural electric co- 

 operatives, all of whom buy their entire power supply from Bonne- 

 ville Power Administration. This group of utilities serves a very 

 sparsely settled area. They have aroimd 40,000 accoimts scattered 

 over about 50,000 square miles. So it's a sparse service area. 



I also represent today the Montana Electric Cooperative Associa- 

 tion, which is our statewide organization in Montana representing 

 26 rured electric cooperatives tlu-oughout the entire state. 



Cooperatives, like public bodies, such as PUDs and municipals, 

 are governed by elected boards and directors or elected officials, 

 and those people are elected, of course, by those that are being 

 served. So there's a direct connection. 



I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the efforts 

 of the Task Force to assess the current electric energy acquisition 

 both in conservation and generation. My educational and profes- 

 sional backgroimd allows some considerable insight into the work- 

 ings of the electric supply mechanisms in the Pacific Northwest. 



As a registered professional engineer with 23 years of power 

 management experience with the Bonneville Power Administration 

 and having served four years as Administrator of a sister agency 

 to Bonne^le, the Southwestern Power Administration, I have 

 some basis for responding, I think, to your inquiries. 



Mr. Chairman, you and your Task Force members are to be com- 

 mended for recognizing that all is not well in the energy acquisition 

 business in the Pacific Northwest. The issues are often technically 

 very complex, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be addressed. 



BPA-served utilities are finistrated and less than optimistic about 

 how the Regional Power Act is being implemented. We find it dif- 

 ficult to explain to oxir consumers why we now have power short- 

 ages and why their rates are beginning to rise much faster than 

 the inflation rate. 



In assessing the success of the Act with regard to power supply, 

 please recall the stated purposes of the Act; "To assure the Pacific 

 Northwest of an adequate, efficient, economical and reliable power 

 supply." During the 12 years since the Council was formed, the re- 

 gion has gone from a 4,000 average megawatt surplus to a current 

 900 average megawatt deficit or shortage. The supply is obviously 

 not adequate. 



