The Bonneville Power Administration has ordered Pacific Northwest wind farms to cut production twice in recent days because it has a surplus of power from hydroelectric dams.

The agency, which manages much of the power grid in the Northwest, confirms it issued the order during the early-morning hours of Sunday and Monday, times when demand is low.

The action renews a dispute from last spring, when the BPA curtailed wind turbines because the water from a large mountain snowpack left the region with more hydropower than the electrical grid could handle.

In December, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered the federal agency not to discriminate against the wind-power companies if such a situation arose again. Bonneville has asked for a rehearing while trying to reach an agreement with wind interests.