Press Releases
Lesko Leads Letter to Protect Arizona Energy Reliability
August 7, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) led a bipartisan letter to the Administrator and CEO of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), asking that WAPA protect contracts delivering power to Arizona communities when considering final negotiations for Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization (SPP RTO). Lesko was joined in sending the letter by United States Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and United States Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).
“Arizonans deserve stability and consistency when it comes to our energy resources,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “I am grateful for my Arizona colleagues who realize the importance of bringing this issue to the forefront.”
WAPA is one of four power marketing administrations within the Department of Energy and provides vital capacity, energy, and resources from the Colorado River Storage Projects (CRSP) to many Arizona communities. WAPA has recently engaged in discussions on the potential membership in a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), but those efforts have raised concerns that WAPA is moving quickly into a market without adequately addressing the need to continue to provide contracted power outside of the expected RTO footprint.
In their letter, members of the Arizona congressional delegation highlight that the progression of negotiations with SPP RTO may affect the existing arrangements with CRSP contractors that could have severe repercussions for Arizona communities receiving reliable and affordable power from WAPA. The members ask that WAPA’s final agreement “ensures that the CRSP power deliveries will continue in Arizona in a manner consistent with the full expected power deliveries promised under existing contracts.”
Read the letter here.
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