Providing reliable and affordable electricity is part of our mission at KEC. It’s a responsibility that requires us to look well beyond today and plan carefully for the energy needs our members will have 10, 20, and even 30 years from now.
As electricity demand continues to grow across the Pacific Northwest—driven by population growth, economic development, and increased electrification—utilities throughout the region are facing a widening gap between supply and demand. At the same time, some traditional power resources are being retired, and extreme weather events are placing additional stress on the electric grid.
That is why KEC, through our membership in PNGC Power, is participating in the development of a new advanced natural gas electric generation facility planned for Rathdrum.
PNGC Power is a not-for-profit power supplier owned by electric cooperatives, including KEC. Together, we plan and secure power resources that would be difficult for any single cooperative to pursue alone. The Rathdrum project is part of PNGC Power’s broader strategy to maintain a balanced energy portfolio of power generation resources.
The plant is being developed and financed by Kindle Energy in partnership with PNGC Power. KEC is not building or owning the facility. Instead, we are subscribing to a portion of the electric output as part of our long-term power supply strategy. Because Kindle Energy is responsible for development and construction, the overall project cost is not a direct KEC capital expenditure. Our responsibility is focused on securing access to reliable power at predictable costs for our members over the long term.
Planned as a state-of-the-art combined cycle natural gas facility, the project is expected to be among the most efficient and lower-emitting, gas-fired generation resources in the nation. Natural gas generation plays an important role in grid reliability because it can produce power on demand, around the clock. This flexibility is essential during periods of high electricity use, extreme weather, or when renewable resources such as wind and solar are not producing.
The plant will provide 590 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity annually or enough electricity to power about 500,000 average homes. KEC’s share of the plant will be 60MW under a long-term agreement. This resource will help serve our members’ electricity needs for decades and is designed to reduce reliance on short term wholesale power purchases, which can be highly volatile and expensive.
Hydropower purchased from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) will continue to serve as the foundation of KEC’s power supply. It is carbon free, affordable, and vital to our system. However, there is not enough low-cost federal hydropower available to meet all future needs of the region. Resources like this natural gas electric generation facility provide additional certainty when hydro conditions are limited or when power markets tighten and prices spike.
From a cost standpoint, this resource is projected to be more affordable than other alternatives available today. While electric rates are rising across the industry due to broader factors outside any single utility’s control, long term planning and diversified resources help keep rate increases as manageable as possible over time.
Our responsibility as a member owned cooperative is to plan ahead—to make thoughtful decisions today that support reliability, affordability, and stability for the future. This project is one part of that broader strategy.
The facility is still in the development phase. It will require about five years to permit, design, and build. We remain committed to keeping members informed and will share more information as the process moves forward and additional details become available.
KEC’s Grid Power Players
Electricity is available to members with the flip of a switch, but it travels great distances and is coordinated among multiple entities before it reaches your home or business. Take a look at the grid power players that ensure KEC’s members receive electricity.
Generation Owners & Operators
Power plants can be owned and operated by electric utlities, government entities or other private companies. For example, the power KEC purchases is generated primarily from federally-owned dams and other resources, while the new natural gas power plant will be owned and operated by a private company.
Transmission System Owners & Operators
The transmission grid moves large amounts of electricity over long distances using high-voltage transmission lines. KEC owns and operates a portion of its transmission infrastructure while also utilizing transmission systems owned by BPA and Avista Utilities to ensure the reliable delivery of power across the region.
Wholesale Markets
In many parts of the country, Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators coordinate the low of electricity. In the Pacific Northwest, however, the majority of the wholesale power is marketed and distributed by BPA
Electric Utilities (That’s Us!)
Electric distribution utilities take electricity from the transmission system and deliver it to homes and businesses through distribution lines. They also maintain local power lines, poles and other essential equipment.
End Users (That’s You!)
End users consist of the homes, businesses and industries that consume electricity. Their demand drives how much electricity is generated and how the grid is managed in real time.