Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some Oregon electric customers could end up paying part of the cost of removing four dams on the Klamath River.

Pacific Power would be allowed to raise its Oregon rates to collect up to $180 million for dam removal under a bill in the Oregon Senate.  But a lawmaker who represents the Klamath Falls area says he has some reservations.

Republican Senator Doug Whitsett says Oregon ratepayers will bear too much of the brunt of removing the dams.

Doug Whitsett: “We might ask why Oregon’s fair share is 90 percent, when PacifiCorp has customers in six states.  We might also ask why Oregon’s fair share is 90 percent when three of the four dams and much of the infrastructure is actually in California.”

The Grange and some Klamath area farmers also criticized the rate increase at a public hearing in Salem Tuesday.

The dam removal financing plan has the support of tribal and some environmental groups, as well as Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.

There’s talk in Sacramento of putting a bond measure before California voters to raise more money to reimburse PacifiCorp. But the legislation there is still in the early stages.

If it happens, California taxpayers could end up paying more than Oregon ratepayers.