Article: Kennewick, Wash.-Area Irrigators Try to Fend Off Electricity Rate Hikes.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Dec. 17--Mid-Columbia utilities are hoping to protect a deal that would partially shield irrigators from sharp electricity rate increases that would kick-in for the 2002 growing season.

But higher than anticipated wholesale energy costs and turf battles between Bonneville Power Administration customers has forced a new round of contract negotiations that could unravel an agreement that already would leave irrigators paying more.

And without some sort of mitigation, irrigators could be looking at increases high enough to put them out of business.

"There's a lot of concern in agriculture right now," said Ray Anason, the irrigation manager for Sun ...

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