Read first time 02/27/2003.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO STEVEN WRIGHT, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, AND TO SPENCER ABRAHAM, SECRETARY OF ENERGY, AND TO TOM RIDGE, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The State of Washington's economy is constructed on affordable and reliable electricity; and
     WHEREAS, Energy prices in the Northwest are threatening businesses and industries, including aluminum companies; and
     WHEREAS, The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing yet another rate increase to go into effect on October 1, 2003; and
     WHEREAS, The proposed increase is 15% more than the current rates, which are already extremely high due to the more than 50% increase that has already occurred in the last couple of years; and
     WHEREAS, This increase will cost the state's economy one billion dollars over the next three years; and
     WHEREAS, Many industries moved to Washington to take advantage of low-cost hydroelectric power. They are now paying more for power in Washington than in most of their other locations in the nation; and
     WHEREAS, Without affordable energy for these industries (aluminum, pulp and paper, aerospace, agriculture, etc.), thousands of family-wage jobs will be lost; and
     WHEREAS, Many of these jobs are in rural and economically challenged areas. These industries are at the core of many Northwest communities and provide the foundation for numerous secondary employment opportunities and also provide substantial tax revenues; and
     WHEREAS, The proposed rate increase will do more than jeopardize high paying jobs. The nation is suffering a severe recession and the Pacific Northwest is already the hardest hit region in the country; and
     WHEREAS, Any increase in Bonneville Power Administration rates will only slow or prevent economic recovery as well as exacerbate the state's budget crisis; and
     WHEREAS, The Bonneville Power Administration has the tools available to meet all of its legal obligations, including protecting fish and wildlife, without raising rates; and
     WHEREAS, As a result of its $500 million in prepayments to Treasury to avoid a rate increase, the Bonneville Power Administration can cut costs (not just slow its rate of growth) and utilize its newly acquired additional borrowing authority and the flexibility it has garnered; and
     WHEREAS, This region simply cannot support an additional billion dollar hit to its economy over the next three years;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully communicate their request for the Bonneville Power Administration to refrain from adopting rate increases at this time, unless absolutely necessary to preserve its bond rating, and to use other tools at its disposal to manage costs until economic recovery is in sight.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, Steven Wright, Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy, Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.