Utilities at a customer-led workshop voiced support for Bonneville Power Administration’s shift toward proactive transmission planning, though some expressed reservations about the agency’s proposed commercial readiness criteria.

BPA finalized the set of policies and records of decision underlying its long-term power sales contracts and has also taken additional steps to align with President Donald Trump’s priorities, CEO John Hairston said during the agency’s quarterly business review.

Customers of the Bonneville Power Administration will see power rates increase by about 8-9% over the next three years while transmission rates will jump by an average of nearly 20%, the agency said.

Although one of the aims of day-ahead markets in the West is to fix a fragmented transmission landscape, some islanded entities will have a tough time navigating seams issues likely to arise as markets take shape, analysts at Aurora Energy Research said during a webinar.

The Bonneville Power Administration faces monumental challenges in implementing actions to meet the Pacific Northwest’s needs once it lifts its pause on transmission planning.

BPA approved a $700 million plan to increase the output of the Pacific Northwest’s only commercial nuclear plant by 162 MW by 2031.

Bonneville's final record of decision will come as little surprise to those who’ve been following market developments in the West.