the film forum library tutorial contact

BPA Makes Treasury Payment by Staff BPA Journal, November 2013

BPA recently made its 30th consecutive annual payment to the U.S. Treasury: a total of $692 million for fiscal year 2013, which ended Sept. 30.

"We are proud of our record of sound financial management," said Elliot Mainzer, acting BPA administrator.

"This latest payment reaffirms BPA's commitment to fully repay the U.S. taxpayers on time and in full for their investment in the Federal Columbia River Power System and reflects our strong commitment to our financial obligations and enduring prudent approach to fiscal management."

Including this year, BPA's cumulative payments to the U.S. Treasury during these 30 consecutive years amount to over $23.8 billion.

This year's payment includes: $224 million in principal; $367 million in interest; $59 million in irrigation assistance payments; and $42 million in other payments. Included in the $42 million of other payments is a $36 million payment to ensure that ratepayers, not taxpayers, fund post- retirement benefit programs for FCRPS employees. Of the $692 million total payment, $131 million is paid by applying Treasury credits for non-power-related fish mitigation efforts and for interest earnings.

The principal payment is less than in the past because BPA was scheduled to repay a higher amount of nonfederal debt this year. This year BPA repaid $513 million of nonfederal debt principal, of which $500 million was related to Energy Northwest projects. Energy Northwest develops, owns and operates a diverse mix of electricity generating resources, including the Northwest's only nuclear facility, the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Wash.

In addition to the U.S. Treasury payment, BPA paid opera- tions and maintenance expenses for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife service projects directly funded by BPA. This direct funding amounted to $345 million in fiscal year 2013.