Reliable, Low-cost Energy

Click the topics below to learn more about the various attributes of this source of electricity that powers nearly 60 percent of Northwest homes and businesses.
woman power outage

Power outages 

BPA plans for and manages hundreds of power outages each year. Some are planned, while others – often the most frustrating ones – are unplanned and caused by storms, trees, accidents and even fires.

water cycle

Water Cycle: The power behind the hydropower

Hydropower is reliable, thanks to the benefits and predictability of our planet’s water cycle.

snowpack

Snowpack: From powder to power       

The water that drives the Northwest’s hydroelectric dams comes from rain and snow further upstream.

reservoirs

Reservoirs: The region's storage battery

Like giant storage batteries, reservoirs behind dams can hold water to meet energy needs. 

dam

Dams: One structure, many benefits              

At first glance, dams look like they only hold back and store water, but they actually do so much more.

reliable energy

Reliable Energy: Balancing supply and demand

Hydropower powers the region day or night, rain or shine. 

integrating renewables

Integrating Renewables: The perfect partner

The perpetual nature of hydropower makes it the perfect partner to variable renewables like wind and solar. 

power generation

Power Generation: From water to watt       

As water flows through a dam, the pressure of that falling water turns a large turbine and makes electricity.

transmission

Transmission: From dam to doorstep

Electricity flows along transmission and distribution lines sometimes traveling hundreds of miles.

black transmission towers set against an orange and yellow sky

Grid Resilience: Powering through extreme weather

With their ability to quickly ramp up or down, dams reliably provide power to keep the grid stable during extreme weather.

city of portland at night

Resource Adequacy: Meeting the region's energy needs

Enough energy must be available to meet electricity demands under both normal and extreme conditions. 

night sky with silhouette of tree skyline and transmission lines and towers running through the center of the image

Geomagnetic storms: Auroras and the power grid

These solar storms emit colorful light shows known as auroras but can pose a risk to power grids.