Fuel Value & Performance

Energy Northwest’s history of strategic fuel purchases for Columbia Generating Station has resulted in some of the lowest fuel costs in the nation for Northwest beneficiaries of nuclear power.

In May 15, 2012, Energy Northwest announced to the region its most beneficial fuel purchase to date – an agreement between the Tennessee Valley Authority, the U.S. Enrichment Corporation and the Department of Energy to turn depleted uranium (also called uranium tails) into low cost enriched uranium product for further future processing into nuclear fuel.

According to the Bonneville Power Administration, the fuel agreement is more than $40 million savings to the fiscal 2014 - 2015 rate case, and will save customers tens of millions more through 2028. Every $40 million saved per rate case lowers that rate case by approximately 1 percentage point.​