YAKIMA, Wash. — Effective Nov. 1, 2006, Pacific Power’s residential and small farm customers in Washington will see a net increase on their bills of approximately 4.6 percent, or $2.41 per month. This is solely due to a reduction in an energy credit they have been receiving from the Bonneville Power Administration. The credit appears as a line item on customer bills.

The credit comes from provisions in the 1980 Northwest Power Act that ensure that customers of investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Power share a portion of the benefits of the Columbia River federal hydropower system. The credit is passed directly through to customers from BPA; utilities receive no part of the credit.

This change in the credit is a result of a 10-year plan agreed to in 2000, which provided five years of benefits at one rate, with an agreed-to step down of benefits in 2006 for the remaining five years.

For more information, see www.pacificpower.net or call toll free at 888-221-7070.

Media inquiries: newsdesk@pacificorp.com