Public Rate Design Methodology 2029

BPA is replacing the Tiered Rates Methodology (TRM), which expires Sept. 30, 2028, with the Public Rate Design Methodology (PRDM). The PRDM will apply to the section 7(b) rate applicable to sales of firm power under the Provider of Choice contracts and will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2028.  The PRDM will be developed in a section 7(i) proceeding (referred to as the PRDM-26 Proceeding) that will run concurrent with the BP-26 Rate Proceeding.  Details of how to participate in the PRDM-26 Proceeding are provided below.

For questions and comments, please email prdm@bpa.gov.

Scheduling Conference for BP-26, TC-26 and PRDM-26

BPA held a scheduling conference on Monday, Oct. 28 to review and discuss the proposed procedural schedules for the BP-26 Rate Case, TC-26 Tariff Proceeding, and PRDM-26 Proceedings with prospective parties to each proceeding.

Federal Register Notice Publication

 The Federal Register Notice (FRN) announcing the commencement of the PRDM-26 proceeding was published on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. 

• Federal Register Notice of the PRDM-26 

• Public Rate Design Methodology (PDF)

• Public Rate Design Methodology (Word)

• Public Rate Design Methodology (Redline compares PRDM Draft 1 (released for public comment on Aug. 14, 2024) to PRDM Initial Proposal)

Ex Parte Rules

With publication of the FRN, a prohibition of ex parte communications has begun and will remain in effect throughout the duration of the PRDM-26 proceeding. BPA’s Rules of Procedure prohibit ex parte communications during the PRDM-26 proceeding. Please refer to BPA’s letter to parties interested in the PRDM-26 proceeding for additional information on the ex parte rule.

Ex Parte Communications

• Ex Parte Notice
  
  • Tacoma Communication
  • Grant PUD Communication
  • Clatskanie Communication
  • PNGC Communication
  • BPA Staff Communication

Release of BPA’s Initial Proposal

BPA released its Initial Proposal in the PRDM-26 proceeding on Nov. 15, 2024. Please refer to the Secure Proceedings website to view public documents filed in the PRDM-26 proceeding.

Prehearing Conferences for the TC-26, BP-26, and PRDM-26 Proceedings

The Prehearing Conferences for the TC-26 tariff proceeding, BP-26 rate case and PRDM-26 proceeding was held on Friday, Nov. 15.

Intervention Instructions

Once the FRN in the PRDM-26 proceeding is published, any entity or person intending to become a party in the PRDM-26 proceeding must file a petition to intervene through Bonneville’s secure website. The Rules of Procedure require interventions to be filed on the secure website. Because Bonneville is introducing a new secure website interface, all prospective users must create a new user account to submit an intervention. User accounts will be approved once the proceeding is active upon the publication of the FRN. The secure website contains a link to the user guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for creating user accounts, requesting access, generating filing numbers, submitting filings, and uploading interventions.

Interventions must conform to the format and content requirements set forth in BPA’s Rules of Procedure Sections 1010.6 and 1010.11. Interventions for the PRDM-26 proceeding may be uploaded to the secure website starting the day the FRN is published (anticipated Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024). The proposed deadline for submitting petitions to intervene is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.

For questions regarding the secure website, prehearing conference, or intervention process, please contact the Hearing Coordinator via email at cwgriffen@bpa.gov or, if the question is time-sensitive, via telephone at (503) 230-5107.