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BPA Under Fire by Staff KMAS, October 25, 2013

The U.S. Department of Energy is asserting more control over Bonneville Power Administration hiring decisions as a result of violations at the agency that discriminated against veterans and other applicants. In a memo sent to BPA officials Thursday, Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman said Bonneville's human resources director and staff will begin reporting directly to department headquarters in Washington D.C.

And while BPA will still be able to decide what job positions need to be filled, ultimate authority over the hiring process will rest outside the region. BPA's general counsel and staff will also report to headquarters.

The BPA markets power from 31 federal dams in the Columbia Basin to 140-plus utilities in four states and manages much of the Pacific Northwest's power grid.