Gina Sisco, administration and communications manager for the PUD, told the committee that the Bonneville Power Administration’s Portland Area Reinforcement Study (PARS) produced a list of projects aimed at expanding local service capacity by about 470 megawatts and that the PUD will now work with BPA on cost allocation and a liability study.

Sisco said participants in the PARS study included the BPA, the PUD, Kotzsch? (as spoken), McMinnville, PGE and Forest Grove, and that the study identified projects to increase local service capacity by roughly 470 MW. She said the next steps are working with BPA on cost allocation and the liability study to understand how much the PUD would be responsible for covering. Sisco also reminded the committee that the PUD’s Rate Advisory Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. July 1 to discuss a cost of service analysis and an October BPA wholesale rate adjustment and related retail rate design for customers.

No committee action was taken; Sisco encouraged anyone interested in utility rate discussions to follow the Rate Advisory Committee meeting.