Energy Power Plan Fourth Power Plan

Revised Fourth Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan

July 1998   |   document 98-22

Chapter 1: Executive Summary

• The Fourth Northwest Power Plan
• The Evolving Northwest Electricity Industry
• Capturing the Benefits of Competition
• The Existing Northwest Power System
• Forecasts and Resource Trends
• Resource Issues in Competitive Markets
• Cost-Effective Conservation
• Renewable Resources
• Environmental Considerations
• The Role of the Bonneville Power Administration
• The Future Role of the Northwest Power Planning Council
• Structuring the Competitive Marketplace

Chapter 2: The Evolving Northwest Electricity Industry

• 2-A. Competition in Electricity Markets
• The Traditional Regulatory Environment
• Regulatory Policy ? Wholesale Competition
• Retail Competition
• 2-B. Restructuring of the Natural Gas Industry
• 2-C. Gas Turbine Technology

Chapter 3: Capturing the Benefits of  Competition

• 3-A. Benefits of Competition
• 3-B. Principles for a Competitive Electricity Market
• Absence of Market Power
• 3-C. Characteristics of Competitive Markets
• Risk and Reward
• Markets are Dynamic
• 3-D. Limitations of Competitive Markets
• Markets are Rarely Perfect
• Efficiency Not Equity
• 3-E. The Transition Matters

Chapter 4: The Existing Northwest Power System

• 4-A. Resources Added Since 1991
• 4-B. The Hydroelectric System
• Accommodating Fish and Power
• 4-C. Other Generating Resources
• Coal-fired Power Plants
• Nuclear Power Plants
• Natural Gas-Fired Combined-Cycle Power Plants
• Industrial Cogeneration
• Other Renewable Resource Projects
• Other Projects
• 4-D. Conservation
• Fuel Choice

Chapter 5: Forecasts and Resource Trends

• 5-A. Growing Demand for Electricity
• Economic Patterns
• Electricity Demand Forecast
• 5-B. Natural Gas Price Forecasts
• 5-C. The Western Power Market
• The Western Generation and Transmission System
• West Coast Resource Availability and Price
• Estimated Level of Reliance on the West Coast Market
• 5-D. New Generating Resource Potential
• General Prospects for Development of New Generating Resources
• 5-E. Hydropower System Uncertainties

Chapter 6: Resource Issues in Competitive Markets

• 6-A. Cost-Effective Conservation
• How Much Conservation has the Region Achieved?
• How Much Remains to be Done?
• Conservation's Benefits, Uncertainties and Risks
• Will the Remaining Cost-Effective Conservation Be Achieved?
• Utilities and Conservation: A New Paradigm
• Options for Conservation Development in the Long-Term
• 6-B. A Renewable Energy Strategy
• Renewables Activities - 1991 to the Present
• Prospects for Development of Renewable Energy Resources
• Why People Support Renewables
• Value of Renewables Available for Development
• Value of Accelerated Renewables Development
• Findings Regarding a Near-Term Strategy
• Conclusions: Justifiable Elements of a Renewable Resource Strategy
• 6-C. Environmental Considerations
• Environmental Mitigation in Competitive Electricity Markets
• Global Climate Change
• Power System Cost Analysis
• Regional Actions While Climate Change is Uncertain
• International Response to the Climate Change Issue
• New York, 1988
• Rio de Janeiro, 1992
• Berlin, 1995
• Washington, D.C.

Chapter 7: The Role of the Bonneville Power Administration

• 7-A. Alternatives for the Federal Columbia River Power System
• Sale of Assets vs. Sale or Lease of Marketing Rights
• Issues in Considering Alternatives
• 7-B. Consistency with the Principles, Characteristics and Limitations of Competitive Markets
• Should Bonneville's Transmission and Generation Assets Be Separated?
• Market Power
• Markets, Risks and Rewards
• 7-C. Allocation of Benefits
• The Basis of the Benefits ? the Hydropower System
• Distribution of Regional Benefits
• Marketing and Pricing
• 7-D. Public Purposes
• 7-E. Conclusions

Chapter 8: The Future Role of the Northwest Power Planning Council

• 8-A. Goals of the Northwest Power Act
• 8-B. The Council's Power Planning Innovations
• 8-C. The Future Role of the Council
• Council Functions under the Northwest Power Act
• New Roles for the Council?
• No Role for the Council?

Links to Related Materials and Sites

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