Soaking the northwest

If certain sources of energy are less expensive than others, then should those that use that energy save money on their bills?

Apparently not, according to the new Bush budget:

In its budget proposal for 2006, the administration called for a plan requiring the Bonneville Power Administration to shift from providing power at rates based on cost to market-based rates.

Lawmakers said the change could cost Northwest consumers more than $480 million in the first year, and at least $2.5 billion over three years.

“This is the same as a billion-dollar tax hike on Washington state, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s dead on arrival,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. “To think we would arbitrarily pay more for power generated right here in the Northwest is ludicrous.”

Reps. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., and Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., also vowed to fight the proposal, which they called a drastic change from current policy.

“This seems to be a little tougher than the usual attacks on affordable hydropower that we’ve seen consistently from the administration, It’s alarming,” said Kristie Greco, a spokeswoman for DeFazio.