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BPA: agreement‑in‑principle on Columbia River Treaty will shift entitlements, retain capacity for U.S.
Summary
BPA said an agreement in principle to modernize the Columbia River Treaty with Canada reduces the Canadian entitlement beginning Aug. 1 and will, by 2033, leave the U.S. with roughly 600 more megawatts of capacity and about 23 more average megawatts of energy, officials said.
The Bonneville Power Administration said U.S. and Canadian negotiators reached an agreement in principle on modernizing the Columbia River Treaty, a step officials said will change how downstream power benefits are shared and improve operational predictability across the Columbia River Basin.
Administrator and CEO John Harston said a key element of the agreement is a reduction in the energy and capacity delivered to Canada under the current Canadian entitlement; that reduction began to take effect Aug. 1. "This agreement in principle represents a significant milestone in our negotiations with Canada," Harston said, adding that the change is already providing benefits given high summer temperatures and increased demand.
Harston quantified the longer‑term scale of change: by 2033 the Canadian entitlement will drop to less than half of its prior amount, and BPA expects the United States to retain almost 600 more megawatts of capacity and about 23 more average megawatts of energy compared with current allocations. He said the agreement also transfers the transmission rights historically held by BPA for delivering the Canadian entitlement to an entity designated by Canada, which could relieve BPA of certain transmission costs.
Officials emphasized the agreement in principle is not final treaty text. Harston said both countries still must complete detailed treaty language, and each nation must follow domestic processes for formal ratification before the modernized treaty can enter into force.
BPA said the agreement creates opportunities for expanded cross‑border transmission work contemplated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the agency will study potential upgrades to the Eastern British Columbia‑to‑U.S. intertie. Harston said BPA will continue working with tribes, U.S. agencies and Canadian partners to align operations and environmental stewardship obligations.
Harston closed by noting the operational benefits are already beginning to appear in BPA's planning and that the agency will update stakeholders as the countries work toward final treaty texts and domestic approvals.
