BPA and REA Actions and Activities Affecting Utility Participation in Washington Public Power Supply System Plants 4 and 5

GAO was asked to determine how the activities of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) affected two incomplete nuclear powerplants recently terminated by the Washington Public Power Supply System. Specifically, GAO reviewed: (1) BPA involvement in regional demand forecasting; (2) BPA representation to its customers of the region's need for additional generating capacity; (3) BPA involvement, if any, in its customers' decisions to participate in plants 4 and 5 and the respective levels of their participation; (4) recent BPA actions which relate to termination of plants 4 and 5; and (5) recent REA actions directed toward BPA customers which could affect the customers' approach to terminating the two plants.