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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.

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NRC Issues Construction Permit for Long Mott High-Temperature, Gas-Cooled Reactor in Texas

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

S&P, Fitch Slash PG&E, SoCal Edison Credit

LCG, Jan. 5, 2001Standard & Poor's and Fitch lowered the credit ratings of California's two largest electric utilities yesterday following action by the state's Public Utilities Commission that will allow the companies to raise their retail electricity rates by one cent per kilowatt-hour.

Fitch dropped the ratings of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison Co. deep into junk bond territory but S&P was a little less harsh, saying it was "premature" to post a rating for the utilities that would place them in default with their lenders.

"If we do that, we're saying we're at the end and there's no way out for these utilities," said S&P analyst Richard Cortwright. "We haven't given up and we're seeing positive signs of legislative action."

California Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday called a special session of the state Legislature to address the mess that has been made of state's electric industry restructuring program. A special session allows any legislation passed by a simple majority to become effective immediately, without the need for the two-thirds vote ordinarily required.

Moody's has not yet announced a ratings decision. As the two major credit rating institutions, Moody's and S&P's credit ratings are built into loan covenants with major banks. If their credit ratings were dropped to the level of that of Fitch, the utilities would be in default on much of their short-term debt.

PG&E said the low rating by Fitch would not affect the company's bank-loan covenants.

Even so, their debt crisis has shut the two utilities out of the debt capital markets. In the California Legislature's special session, the companies are expected to lobby for a special issue of bonds backed by the State Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.

Those bonds would not be a taxpayer "bailout" of the utilities in that they would be responsible for the debt, not the state. The money would be used to buy power for delivery to customers who would be obligated to pay for it later through a surcharge on their bills.

The word "bailout" has been used carelessly by populist groups who see any rate increase for the utilities as such. However, from the utilities' point of view, they are the victims of an electric customer "bailout" which they have financed.

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