WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
The Western Area Power Administration (Western) was created under the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977. Western markets and transmits federally produced power in 15 central and western states, including California, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Hydroelectric power marketed by Western is generated by Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the International Boundary and Water Commission. Western also markets a portion of the power generated by the large Navajo coal-fired plant. The current maximum operating capability of these powerplants is 10,605 megawatts. Western also operates and maintains more than 16,854 miles of transmission lines, 258 substations, and associated power facilities.
Western's 636 wholesale power customers include cooperatives, municipalities, public utility districts, and project use customers. These wholesale power customers provide power to millions of retail consumers in Western's geographic region. During fiscal year 1998, Western sold more than 45 billion kilowatt-hours of power - enough to serve nearly 14 million homes for one year.
For more information about the Western Area Power Administration, visit Western's home page at http://www.wapa.gov.
Revised April 06, 2006 Hydropower Site Map Help