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News
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LCG, November 13, 2026--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) today issued an "In-Brief Analysis" highlighting the record lows for hydropower generation in the Southwest this summer. The prolonged drought conditions affecting the Colorado River Basin caused record low hydropower generation this summer in the Southwestern electricity supply region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, and small parts of Nevada and California. Hydropower generation from April through August 2026 was a full 28 percent lower than the 10-year average and 19 percent lower than during the same period last year.
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LCG, November 11, 2026--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on November 9 that it has approved the Construction Permit Application ("CPA") for the Long Mott Generating Station in Texas. Long Mott Energy, LLC (LME) must obtain a separate operating license from the NRC before loading fuel or operating the reactors.
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Industry News
EIA Analysis of Southwest Hydropower Generation Shows Record Lows and Slow Recovery
LCG, November 13, 2026--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) today issued an "In-Brief Analysis" highlighting the record lows for hydropower generation in the Southwest this summer. The prolonged drought conditions affecting the Colorado River Basin caused record low hydropower generation this summer in the Southwestern electricity supply region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, and small parts of Nevada and California. Hydropower generation from April through August 2026 was a full 28 percent lower than the 10-year average and 19 percent lower than during the same period last year.
The EIA's November Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) forecasts hydropower generation in the Southwest to total 6.13 billion kWh in 2026, which is 24 percent lower than the 10-year average and 9 percent lower than last year. According to the STEO, hydropower generation in the Southwest is expected to account for only about 4 percent of the region's generation mix in 2026, versus the peak of 8 percent in 2011.
At both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which are reservoirs formed by the Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam, respectively, water elevations fell to record lows with the drought. To be able to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell should have an elevation of at least 3,490 feet, also known as the minimum power pool. At the end of September, this elevation reached 3,518 feet, less than 1 percent above minimum power pool. Similarly, Hoover Dam requires an elevation of at least 950 feet at Lake Mead, which by the end of September reached 1,038 feet, just 9 percent higher than minimum power pool.
Looking forward, in 2027, the EIA expects hydropower generation in the Southwest to total 6.1 billion kWh, which is 0.5 percent lower than this year. However, this years El Niño may bring more precipitation than normal and improve the hydropower generation forecast in the region. The EIA notes that multiple years of high precipitation will be needed to significantly raise water levels in reservoirs.
The EIA commented that lower water releases from Lake Powell could impact water elevation downstream at Lake Mead and affect hydropower generation at the Hoover Dam. To manage this scenario, the Department of the Interior has decided to reduce the collective water consumption of California, Arizona, and Nevada by 1.25 million acre-feet each year over the next two years.
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UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
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UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
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UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
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PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
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