We’re one of four power marketing administrations within the U.S. Department of Energy whose role is to market and transmit wholesale electricity from multi-use water projects. Our service area encompasses a 15-state region of the central and western U.S. where our more than 17,000 circuit mile transmission system carries electricity from 57 hydropower plants operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the International Boundary and Water Commission.

​Together, these plants have an installed capacity of 10,504 megawatts. We sell our power to preference customers such as Federal and state agencies, cities and towns, rural electric cooperatives, public utility districts, irrigation districts and Native American tribes. They, in turn, provide retail electric service to millions of consumers in the West.

Our Mission

Safely provide reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to our customers and the communities we serve.​

Our Vision

Empowering communities, securing a resilient energy future​.

Our Core Values

  • Listen to understand, speak with purpose. We must always consider our audience and speak to them in ways that will be clear, simple and relevant. We know active listening is the first step in effective communication. We consider context and check for clarity and simplicity. We are respectful, direct, honest, transparent and consistent. We assume positive intent.
  • Seek. Share. Partner. We value partnership and actively engage others in the seeking and sharing of ideas. We collaborate to move forward and partner to add value. We actively engage others. We share all relevant information in a timely fashion, acting as one team united in our common mission.
  • Respect self, others and the environment. We represent WAPA in being good neighbors and stewards of our collective resources. We are compassionate in our relationships with others, as well as toward ourselves. We are respectful in all of our dealings.
  • Do what is right. Do what is safe. We are public servants who act with integrity, stand up for what is right and demonstrate courage when acting in the best interests of our customers and the communities they serve. We are safe in all of our actions and consider safety in all our planning.​
  • Be curious, learn more, do better. Repeat. We seek and welcome feedback to directly and quickly improve. We innovate, plan for the future and support the growth of our teams and colleagues. We reflect upon progress to learn and grow.
  • Serve like your lights depend on it! We understand the importance of our mission to provide power to customers that serve more than 40 million Americans. We anticipate customer needs, build relationships, seek win-win solutions and embrace responsibility. We work hard to ensure other Americans know and understand the importance of our mission.

Our Community Philosophy

At WAPA, we have a TRUE Communication Philosophy. We are:

  • Transparent
  • Relevant
  • Understandable
  • Expedient

Strategic Planning

Western Area Power Administration organizational strategic plan, Power Forward 2030, creates momentum for a prosperous path forward.  It provides direction to a future where our vision and mission – as a trusted source of affordable and reliable energy and transmission services, an innovative contributor to grid resilience, an engaged partner, and a supportive employer – is strengthened and unwavering.  Although WAPA will be faced with challenges and opportunities far beyond 2030, Power Forward 2030 (14MB PDF) provides us a structure to keep our eyes and focus on our foundational goals and principles while navigating the winds of change.
Power Forward 2030 establishes three overarching strategic goals that define our future trajectory: to safeguard a sustainable energy future, modernize the grid and invest in our employees.  Learn more at Strategic Planning.

Leadership Team

Tracey LeBeau​ – ​Administrator and Chief Executive Officer

Tina Ko​ – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating​​​​​ Officer

Mic​hael P​eterson​​ –  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer​

Michael Montoya – Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Ron Klinefelter – ​Senior Vice President and General Counsel​

Dionne Thompson​ – ​Senior Vice President and Assistant Administrator for Corporate Liaison​​

Jack Murray – Senior Vice President and Desert Southwest Regional Manager​

Barton Barnhart​ ​ – Senior Vice President and ​Rocky Mountain Regional Manager​

Michelle Williams – Senior Vice President and Sierra Nevada Regional Manager​

Lloyd ​L​inke​ – ​Senior Vice President and Upper Great Plains Regional Manager​​

Ro​dney B​ailey​​ – Senior Vice President and Colorado River Storage Project Regional Manager

​Jennifer Rodgers –  Senior Vice President​​ and Chief Administrative Officer

Paul Schwabe​ – ​​Senior Vice President and Transmission Infrastructure Program Manager​​​

​Erin Green – ​Chief of Staff

Kerry W​hitford – ​Chief Strategy Officer

Angie Harsh – Director of Communications

Cheryl​ Reese​ –​ Power Marketing Administration Human Resources ​Shared Service Center Director​​

Last modified on April 1st, 2025