BPA is asking customers to use electricity wisely
The Bonneville Power Administration is asking customers to reduce energy use when they can to relieve stress on the power system.
Across the region, during the first week of March, temperatures will be unseasonably cool.
This is cold weather is mostly affecting areas in Oregon and Washington but the BPA is also asking Idaho for their help.
General Manager of Idaho Falls Power Bear Prairie said, “With the cold weather and high electric load the supply of energy is getting tight which was causing the wholesale market to have extremely high pricing so Bonneville is asking customers conserve on their electric consumption to help with the supply in demand balance.”
Most power supply companies will tell you it’s always important to conserve energy.
Joelyn Hansen, Customer Relations Supervisor of Idaho Falls Power said, “Energy conservation is something we should think about all the time. So in times where we do have a reduction on what’s available, it helps us to not bill out more infrastructure which is more expensive.”
Idaho Falls Power says they try to promote energy efficiency throughout the year.
Ways to conserve energy in a home is not that difficult and it’s a nice bonus for your wallet.
Hansen said, “The biggest thing is to really look at how you are using energy. Think about what things you have plugged in. Take an inventory of the things that you are using energy for.”
As the nationals single largest supplier of carbon-free hydroelectricity BPA is taking responsibility for the region very seriously.
They will also uphold regional environmental stewardship obligations. This is how companies like the BPA buys power.
Prairie said, “We have preference under federal law to purchase energy at cost from the Bonneville Power Administration of which we have a twenty-year contract. We buy a slice of the federal hydro system, of that, we purchase about sixty percent of our energy from for our system in Idaho Falls.”
They entered that contract back in 2008 and will end in 2028.
The BPA will continue to explore various options for meeting the power needs of customers.
