A Bonneville Power Administration worker last week discovered thieves had broken into a Bonneville Power Administration substation near Covington and stole copper wire.
BPA and law enforcement officials are investigating, and the BPA is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
The incident occurred at the Covington Substation at 28401 Covington Way SE near Costco. The perpetrators cut a hole in the substation fence and stole copper wire cut from equipment. The damage is estimated at $5,000.
Through its Crime Witness Program, BPA offers up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals committing crimes against BPA facilities and infrastructure.
Anyone with information is asked to call BPA’s confidential and toll-free Crime Witness Hotline at 800-437-2744 or local law enforcement. Tips can also be provided to officer Devon Stratton with the Covington Police Department at 253-638-1110, ext. 2244.
In 2010, BPA made two $300 awards to individuals who provided tips on thefts BPA experienced in southwest Washington. Since 2006, BPA has paid 12 rewards totaling almost $14,000.
“We’re hoping that this information will help jog the memory of someone who may know about the break in and theft or may have seen something suspicious at the substation,” Kevin West said, BPA physical security specialist. “Sometimes even small details can help law enforcement officials make significant investigative progress.”
BPA is a nonprofit 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 U.S. 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 3,500 megawatts of wind interconnected to its transmission system.
