79 



It is also clear that such status is not a panacea for all that ails 

 BPA. It is vital that any move to make BPA a government corpora- 

 tion not alter in any way the delicate balance of the control mecha- 

 nism that was set out in the 1980 Regional Power Act. 



Some have suggested that Northwest Power Planning Council 

 could become BPA's board of directors or that new independent 

 borrowing authority could make BPA synonymous with Congress. 

 We do not believe that would constitute helpful changes. We are 

 pleased that Mr. Bottiger agrees with that view in his testimony 

 today. 



We do not need a national debate on the structure and control 

 issues at a time when we are working hard together within the 

 current framework to resolve these key issues regionally. Con- 

 sequently, how you proceed with legislation to institute government 

 corporation status for BPA is at least as important as the proposal 

 itself. For this reason, PNGC remains only cautiously supportive of 

 the government corporation concept. 



In conclusion, whether we see debt buyout and government cor- 

 poration proposals this session or down the road, please know that 

 PNGC and its member utility systems are always willing to sit 

 down and be helpful in discussing common-sense ways of better 

 meeting the needs of Northwest ratepayers. 



On behalf of the approximate half million consumers of PNGC 

 member systems, I would like to thank you for inviting me here to 

 testify today. Knowing that this is the last in the proceedings this 

 task force will hold, I would like to take this opportunity to thank 

 the committee, to thank Congresswoman Furse for attending and 

 her interest in the issue, to thank Congressman Smith and his in- 

 terest in the issue, and especially to thank you, Congressman 

 DeFazio, whose district, of course, is my hometown, for helping to 

 shed light on the many challenges facing the Northwest power 

 community. 



As you have found, there is no shortage of issues facing us. How- 

 ever, there also is an opportunity to bring additional diversity and 

 reliability to the Northwest energy picture. We appreciate your 

 help in allowing us to recognize and take advantage of these oppor- 

 tunities. 



Thank you. Chairman DeFazio. 



[Prepared statement of Mr. Ramseyer follows:] 



