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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Bureau of Reclamation - Hydropower

The program operates 58 hydropower generating dams, which provide about 10 percent (14 million kilowatts) of the electrical capacity in the Western United States. The dams and resulting reservoirs also provide water for irrigation, drinking water, and recreation.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Effective

This is the highest rating a program can achieve. Programs rated Effective set ambitious goals, achieve results, are well-managed and improve efficiency.
  • Reclamation competently manages its hydropower program, but continuing investment in the aging hydropower infrastructure will be necessary to maintain or improve the reliability of these facilities.
  • Strong oversight by power customers, such as utilities, municipalities, and Federal power marketing agencies, helps ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of Reclamation's hydropower program. Customer desires to minimize costs are balanced against the need to maintain facility condition and reliability.
  • Reclamation continues to invest in improving the condition of its hydropower generating dams, which should forestall a decline in hydropower production. Aggressive improvements may be able to increase reliability of power production.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Giving funding priority to dam safety and maintenance of aging facilities.
  • Investigating whether it is cost-effective for an aggressive capital improvement plan to increase reliability of power facilities.

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