There's strength in numbers

Organization

PNGC Power is a cooperatively owned power services business providing wholesale electric services to its 16 member distribution cooperatives. The 16 cooperatives that distribute power from PNGC are engaged in the sale of electricity at retail to their member-consumers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. PNGC Power’s offices are in Portland, Oregon.

Membership

PNGC’s membership is comprised of 16 distribution utilities, eight of which are located in Oregon, six in Idaho, one in Washington and one in Montana. The general manager of each member cooperative comprises the PNGC Power Board of Directors. They set policy for PNGC Power, as well as wholesale electric rates for the 16 members.

Power Supply

In 1995, a number of cooperatives formed a buying group to take advantage of open access to transmission service and emerging wholesale bulk markets. In 1996, PNGC became the nation's first electric cooperative to receive a power marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This gave PNGC the ability to purchase and resell power at wholesale.

On behalf of its 16 members, PNGC Power entered into a 10-year contract to purchase most of its power from BPA, starting in 2001. Part of this power is in the form of a more traditional “Block” of power. The other portion is a “Slice” of the total power capabilities of the Federal Base System (FBS). Under this contract PNGC purchases additional power from wholesale markets when needed. When available Slice power exceeds power requirements, PNGC markets the surplus.

PNGC Power operates as a Joint Operating Entity (JOE), aggregating members’ loads and resources and purchasing net requirements from BPA under consolidated contractual agreements.

Transmission

PNGC Power takes responsibility for all aspects of delivering power, acquiring transmission and managing the associated contracts. PNGC negotiates and manages the transmission service agreements for member utilities, including scheduling, interacting with BPA on transmission policies, practices and rates, and billing for transmission services. PNGC represents members in BPA rate cases, helps members deal with transmission issues relative to their territory, represents them in billing disputes and manages interconnection issues and wheeling agreements.

Other points of interest

Demand for electricity is expected to grow steadily in the Northwest. During new long-term contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration (currently our primary power supplier), starting in 2011, the amount of low-cost electricity from the hydro-based federal power system will not be adequate to meet the increased demand for electricity. Some PNGC Power members report current or anticipated growth in their service territories; others have yet to see significant growth. PNGC is developing a long-term plan and assessing a range of alternate power resources for the future. Providing wholesale rate stability for members is a top priority for PNGC. Tools are in place to help member cooperatives make key decisions to ensure that supply is available to meet future loads.

Download 2008/2009 Audit (86KB Adobe Acrobat PDF)