Timeline
More than 35 years of building partnerships and capabilities.
PNGC Power first evolved from the power crisis of the mid-1970's when a forward-thinking
group of utilities banded together to create their own generation and transmission
cooperative. In 1975, the original Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative was
formed to jointly participate in new generation options. The timeline below highlights
how PNGC Power has developed from a buying group of eleven local co-ops into a member-owned
cooperative that now provides sophisticated power management, technical innovation
and cutting-edge customer services and products.
1975
- Formation of the original Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative to jointly
participate in new resource options.
1995
- Members from an existing power cooperative (Power Resources Cooperative) form
a new Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative to create a wholesale power-buying
group to enhance leveraging of wholesale power supply.
1997
- PNGC Power becomes the nation's first electric cooperative to receive a power
marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), gaining
the ability to purchase and resell power at wholesale. PNGC builds a $100 million-plus
power portfolio in its first year.
1998
- Six cooperative utilities join PNGC's buying group and PNGC adds non-member services
including power supply analysis, power contract negotiation, cost-of-service analysis,
rate design and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rate-case representation.
1999
- Member-owner Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Redmond, Oregon) earns award
from Northwest Environmental Advocates for successfully marketing green power from
the Coffin Butte Resource Project located near Corvallis, Oregon. (Note: Central
Electric Cooperative was subsequently recognized for being in the top 10 nationwide
for customer participation in green power programs in 2002, 2003 and 2004.)
- Congress passes the PNGC Power-inspired Joint Operating Entities (JOE) Bill that
benefits Northwest consumer-owned utility members of PNGC by enabling them to jointly
purchase power at wholesale from BPA.
2001
- With the JOE Bill in place, PNGC Power negotiates and enters into a consolidated
10-year Slice/Block contract for its members with BPA, thereby reducing risk and
maximizing market opportunities.
- PNGC Power establishes its own power operations group to manage forecasting, tracking
and scheduling of its Slice power, 24/7.
- Technical capabilities greatly increase: PNGC adds a new Meter Data Management
System (MDMS) that sends actual load data to PNGC schedulers every five minutes
and implements sophisticated risk management tools.
- PNGC Power negotiates a substantial credit facility with the nation's two primary
cooperative banks.
2002
- PNGC Power and members agree to participate in BPA's Conservation and Renewable
Discount Program (C&RD).
- PNGC Power introduces the Circuit Rider program to help member cooperatives identify
opportunities for energy efficiency and savings.
- Founding CEO Dave Piper retires and Pat Reiten is appointed PNGC Power's new president
and CEO.
2003
- Coffin Butte Resource Project is recognized by the EPA as one of the most efficient
landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the country.
- PNGC Power, in partnership with BPA, concludes a field-test (started in 1999)
of fuel cells – an emerging technology that may be particularly well-suited for
customers with facilities in outlying areas.
2004
- PNGC Power continues to invest in high-level professional staff and state-of-the-art
business and IT systems.
- PNGC Power helps establish the Customer Collaborative group that works with BPA
to give its preference customers an advance look at issues impacting future costs
and rates.
- PNGC helps create the Coalition for Smart Salmon Recovery, now Northwest RiverPartners,
an alliance of farmers, utilities, ports and businesses that promote the economic
and environmental benefits of the Columbia and Snake Rivers and salmon recovery
policies based on sound science.
2005
- Management implements a Strategic Education Program (SEP), a method first used
to help educate members about the Slice/Block product, focusing on current issues
affecting PNGC Power and future power resource options and management strategies.
- PNGC Power rolls out the first of a three-phase software development and upgrade
project geared to providing greater functionality and efficiencies to Power Operations.
2006
- John Prescott is named president and chief executive officer for PNGC Power.
- PNGC Power embarks on an Integrated Resource Plan process to evaluate various
power supply options for the future. The goal is to find a balance between risk
and cost in supplying reliable electricity, starting in 2011.
- PNGC and other stakeholders reached a $25.9 million settlement concerning Slice
contract litigation that returned $4.9 million to PNGC member cooperatives.
2008
- PNGC Power staff and Board of Directors ramp up focus and activities in preparation
for post-2011 energy environment in the Northwest.
- PNGC Power signs a new 20-year long-term contract with Bonneville Power Administration
that secures the cost-based federal base system benefits and sets the stage for
additional power resources post-2011.
2009
- Lincoln Electric Cooperative (Eureka, Montana) partners with PNGC Power.
- PNGC Power actively pursues new energy sources and technology investment opportunities
with other like-minded cooperatives and mutuals to ensure reliable and affordable
power for all members in the future.
- PNGC Power continues to advocate for and represent PNGC’s long-term interests
as climate change legislation progresses through the federal legislative process.
2011
- Start of service as a Load Following customer under new long-term contracts
with BPA. PNGC Power is working to ensure that contracts and related policies are
shaped to fit member priorities and ensure extended rate stability.
