Thieves hit BPA substation in Longview/Kelso; reward offered

Longview, Wash. - Last week, thieves broke into a Bonneville Power Administration substation in Longview, Wash., and stole copper wire.  BPA and law enforcement officials are investigating, and BPA is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The incident occurred at the Lexington Substation located near Interstate 5 just north of Kelso, WA. "Thieves continue to risk their lives and the safety of our crews to steal copper wire," said Kim Howell, district manager.  "Also, the costs associated with these thefts are ultimately paid by electricity consumers."

The incident occurred late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning last week.  The perpetrators broke a BPA lock, entered the substation and cut and stole copper grounding wire.

“We’re hoping that this information will help jog the memory of someone who may know about this theft or may have seen something suspicious occurring at the Lexington Substation,” said Kevin West, BPA physical security specialist.  “Sometimes even small details can help law enforcement officials make significant investigative progress.” 

Through its Crime Witness Program, BPA offers up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals committing crimes against BPA facilities and infrastructure. Anyone having information is asked to call BPA's confidential and toll-free Crime Witness Hotline at (800) 437-2744 or local law enforcement.

Last year, BPA provided a $4,000 reward to an individual who provided information that led to the arrest and conviction of thieves who stole copper wire and damaged equipment at Bonneville Power Administration substations in western Montana.   Since 2006, BPA has paid 10 rewards totaling almost $13,000.

BPA is a not-for-profit federal electric utility that operates a high-voltage transmission grid comprising more than 15,000 miles of lines and associated substations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  It also markets more than a third of the electricity consumed in the Pacific Northwest. The power is produced at 31 federal dams operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation and one nuclear plant in the Northwest and is sold to more than 140 Northwest utilities.  BPA purchases power from seven wind projects and has more than 2,000 megawatts of wind interconnected to its transmission system.

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