Pacific Northwest Struggles Without Rain

Dec. 27 -- The Pacific Northwest is known for pounding, consistent rain.

Without that rain the region could be headed for catastrophic power shortages and massive rate increases. California Governor Gray Davis met with President Clinton today and asked for an extension to ease his state’s energy crisis and prevent imminent blackouts. Farther north in Tacoma, residents are shelling out more money during their state’s power crisis. The Pacific Northwest may have to rely on California to supply them with power since the area’s resources are thinning.

Roughly 80 percent of all power used in the Northwest comes from hydroelectricity. Because there’s usually so much rain in the region, residents have enjoyed some of the lowest rates in the nation. But that, like the constant rain, has come to an end, at least for now.

“The situation now I would consider an emergency as far as we’re concerned,” said Mark Crisson, president of Tacoma Public Utilities.

This year, the reservoirs that feed the dams needed to produce this power have nearly dried up. Dams and reservoirs have reached the driest point they’ve seen in 70 years, according to officials. Forecasts do not call for more rain in the area this winter, either.

“Across Washington State reservoirs are reaching levels not ever seen before,” Crisson said.

Lights Out in Tacoma

Without hydroelectric power, utilities are being forced to buy electricity on the open market where prices have soared largely due to power shortages in California. As a result, utilities in cities like Tacoma, Washington have raised rates nearly 50 percent to keep up with the costs. The rate hikes are forcing residents to shut off their lights and to turn down their thermostats.

“I don’t want to use all my money that I should normally use for food to pay an electric bill,” said Tacoma resident Evelyn Undziakiewicz.

There is an aggressive campaign by congressional delegations and the governors from Washington and Oregon to get federal relief from the power rate problems in the Northwest. Washington Gov. Gary Locke is angry that the Federal Regulatory Commission has protected California rate payers by placing a cap on wholesale power rates there but refused to do the same for other customers in the West. Locke, and the others, believe Washington rate payers are paying for California’s problems.