WPPSS Late on Director, too: Little Generated but Delays

April 28, 1980. This article reports on the delayed hiring of a new managing director position for the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS). The new manager would have to confront rising costs and ?overly ambitious? nuclear power plans. One substantial hurdle for the WPPSS has been the enormous jumps in construction costs for their proposed nuclear plants. The construction of the nuclear plants is 5-6 years behind schedule and WPPSS directors approved additional, scheduled delays of 12 ? 16 months. As a result of the delays, PNUC says the region has an 80% chance of power shortages. Internal logistics and personnel issues have also created some issues for WPPSS, and, consequently, their spike in construction costs holds implications of rate increases for customers. Although the blame for these management problems isn?t a black and white issue, anonymous consultants argued that lack of direction and accountability create some of the organization?s biggest management obstacles. KEYWORDS: Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS); Bonneville Power Administration (BPA); Nuclear Energy; Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference; Aluminum Industry; 280DP18042.