On March 30, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report finding that four power marketing administrations (PMAs)—Bonneville Power Administration, Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)—face increasing risks from climate change and must prepare for these vulnerabilities.[1] The four PMAs are run by the Department of Energy (DOE) and sell electricity generated from federal hydropower dams to public utilities, rural cooperatives, and Indian Tribes in over 30 states. These entities face risks to their operations, including reduced dam generation due to drought conditions and extreme heat, wildfires, and extreme storms. Reduced generation could raise power prices and reduce deliveries of low-emission hydroelectricity. Despite this, GAO found that two of the PMAs missed a DOE deadline to write assessments on the risks associated with climate change and develop plans to address them. WAPA and SEPA said that staffing issues contributed to the delay but that they would prepare them before the end of 2023.

[1] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106224?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery