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Statement of 



Stephen F. Johnson, Executive Director 



Washington Public Utility Districts Association 



and Stephen W. Romjue, Chair of the Board 



Conservation and Renewable Energy System (CARES) 



Presented on Behalf of the 



Washington PUD Association 



Before the 



Committee on Natiiral Resources 



Bonneville Power Administration Task Force 



July 12, 1993 



Mr. Chairman, members of the task force, I am Stephen F. Johnson, executive 

 director of the Washington Public Utility Districts Association. I am accompanied 

 today by Stephen W. Romjue, manager of Grays Harbor County Public Utility 

 District and Chair of the Board of the Conservation and Renewable Energy System, 

 or CARES. 



Collectively the Washington PUDs are the largest customer of the Bonneville Power 

 Administration and serve 1.5 million people. Of the 22 PUDs that provide electric 

 service, five generate a majority of their own power, seven purchase a majority of 

 thek power from Bonneville, and 12 purchase 100% of their electricity from 

 Bonneville. 



The focus of our testimony today is on how and why a joint operating agency, 

 CARES, was created to acquire energy efficiency and renewables, and on what role 

 similar JOAs and third party financing mechanisms can play in assisting utilities 

 and Bonneville in more effectively acquiring new energy resources. 



The CARES Idea 



The Conservation and Renewable Energy System is a joint operating agency 

 organized under the laws of the state of Washington. Its current members are eight 

 small and medium size Washington PUDs: Benton, Clallam, Franklin, Grays 

 Harbor, Klickitat, Okar.ogan, Pacific, and Skamania County PUDs. Washington 

 cities, as well as PUDs, are eligible for future membership. 



