Managing BPA R&D

The authors describe the organization, management, and process for accomplishing applied R&D for BPA (Bonneville Power Adminstration) programs. The BPA is required to be self-financing. As such, the emphasis of BPA´s R&D program is to deliver benefits to BPA and its customers, as well as to meet legislative mandates. Coordination with political bodies, BPA customers, other utilities, and other research organizations is required to formulate and accomplish the R&D as an integral part of three programs: Transmission System Development, Energy Resources, and Fish and Wildlife. Each of these programs has different needs, directives from outside BPA, and customer bases. While the R&D management is centralized, the accomplishment is decentralized