WAPA Administrator Testifies on Organization’s FY 2025 Budget Request

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2024

CONTACT: Stephen J. Collier, [email protected], 720-962-7411

LAKEWOOD, Colo.- Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau testified May 16 before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee's Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee on the Western Area Power Administration's Fiscal Year 2025 budget request.

Together with leadership from each power marketing administration, as well as other federal agencies, LeBeau briefed members of Congress on WAPA's advancements and strategic initiatives undertaken throughout 2023 and 2024. Through written and oral testimony, LeBeau discussed the challenges facing hydroelectric power marketing due to changing hydrological conditions and aging infrastructure throughout the West.

"This budget not only supports WAPA's operational needs, but also contributes to broader federal energy goals," LeBeau said. "Through careful planning, transparent rate-setting processes and continuous stakeholder engagement, WAPA is committed to providing reliable and cost-effective federal hydroelectric power."

Other Federal agencies on hand to provide testimony included the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

WAPA's FY 2025 proposed budget, totaling $1.787 billion, presented a balanced approach to funding WAPA operations, with an emphasis on financial sustainability, infrastructure and service reliability, as well as strategic investments. Of the proposed funds to support WAPA operations and maintenance, 94 percent is generated from power sales and alternative financing arrangements.

LeBeau discussed how the FY 2025 budget proposal was designed to ensure the continued reliability and security of the federal power and transmission system. Security initiatives include modernizing WAPA's data acquisition and energy management systems.

"Our goal is to maintain financial stability and sustainability across all operations. (These projects) will enhance our operational efficiencies and cybersecurity measures … and will boost overall system management capabilities, ensuring that operations are secure and adaptable to the evolving energy landscape. Our ongoing cybersecurity enhancements … have significantly fortified our systems."

The Administrator's testimony also centered on one of WAPA's largest ongoing challenges: drought.

"Drought remains what we consider a slow-moving natural disaster that will take years of consistent and significant snowpack to recover fully," LeBeau said. "In response, WAPA adjusted rates throughout its system to ensure system reliability. Reduced hydropower generation means more customers must buy power in the open market, which had led to increased costs and constrained supply, and negatively impacting WAPA's customers, many of whom serve some of the most economically vulnerable communities in the United States."

LeBeau highlighted during her testimony that drought has threatened WAPA's entire western service territory for the first time in 2022, even though conditions improved slightly in 2024.

WAPA's FY 2025 budget request aims to maintain exceptional support to nearly 700 wholesale customers, often found in rural communities, including cities and municipalities, electric cooperatives, irrigation districts, military installations and Tribal governments and utilities.

LeBeau concluded her remarks, emphasizing that as the energy landscape continues to evolve,"WAPA stands ready to address challenges and seize opportunities for the benefit of our nearly 700 wholesale customers across the West, as well as the nation."

"WAPA is at a critical juncture," LeBeau stated. "We face both challenges and opportunities as we strive to maintain the reliability and affordability of our power and transmission services across the western United States. Our ongoing efforts in cybersecurity, physical security and wildfire risk management are integral to the mission and fundamental to the trust placed in WAPA by customers and the 40 million people we serve."

Read or view LeBeau's remarks:

Recorded Oral Testimony
Oral Testimony Transcript
Written Testimony

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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 28,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Visit the website at www.wapa.gov.

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