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Page 4 

 Testimony 



Fourth, we feel that this committee and Congress generally 

 should return Bonneville to its original charter, that of 

 marketing power from the Federal Base System and providing 

 transmission from generating facilities to load centers. 



Resource Acquisition Programs 



The public power system such as the one I represent are 

 operated by grass roots elected officials. Our effectiveness is 

 directly proportionate to what our customers desire. Our 

 customers do not understand or accept edicts that come down from 

 the top. Directives from Regional Councils or even from the 

 state are looked at as infringements on their rights as citizens. 



Conservation for instance serves large Metropolitan areas 

 well and their citizens support those efforts. The Commerce and 

 Industry in these areas are in place. 



In our area, a very rural area, we are more concerned with 

 developing Commerce and Industry just to have a job to feed our 

 families. Regional planning, conservation acquisition, new 

 resource rates for single loads both new loads and existing 

 hinder, if not stop, rural growth. This is not acceptable to our 

 customers and no amount of explaining all the higher ideals 

 changes their focus. 



How are we dealing with this issue? We are developing our 

 own resources outside of this political area. Our only fear is 

 that some congressman or senator for; yes, all the moral and just 

 reasons makes our efforts futile. By the way, our customers 

 support our efforts by an 82% favorable vote on our bonding 

 authorization ballot measure held in November 1992. EPA can be a 

 partner with Clatskanie in this effort. Recently, BPA has been 

 effective in assisting us in developing a co-generation project 

 that will not only help our Industrial customer stay in business 

 but provides a relatively cheap and dependable power resource for 

 the Region. BPA is to be commended for its efforts with this 

 project. 



We believe that Bonneville has made a good start toward 

 developing fair and realistic resource acquisition policies. We 

 do not sense any desire on Bonneville's part to acquire more 

 expensive resources than necessary to meet Bonneville's 

 forecasted needs. Bonneville has and exhibits absolutely no 

 motivation to pay more for new resources than Bonneville must pay 

 given market conditions and the requirements imposed by law. 



The problem is that so many new resources are being proposed 

 to Bonneville that it is very difficult to fairly evaluate the 

 choices. Furthermore, Bonneville is justifiably concerned about 

 administrative protests or judicial challenges to any Bonneville 



