FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2021
CONTACT: Lisa Meiman, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720.962.7411
LAKEWOOD, Colorado – Lloyd Linke has been named Western Area Power Administration’s senior vice president and Upper Great Plains regional manager effective July 18.
“I’m looking forward to my new role within WAPA,” Linke said. “WAPA’s mission brings significant value to our customers and I’m excited to work with the dedicated and hardworking UGP staff to ensure that our customers continue to receive these benefits and value our partnership.”
As the UGP regional manager located in Watertown, South Dakota, Linke will lead more than 340 employees across Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota in serving customers with cost-based federal hydropower. UGP is WAPA’s largest region in terms of hydropower sales, transmission lines and customers. The region markets more than about 12 million megawatt-hours firm federal hydropower in a six-state area across almost 8,000 miles of WAPA-owned transmission line to 324 long-term wholesale customers. This power is generated at Yellowtail Powerplant on the Bighorn River in Montana and the seven Missouri River main stem dams in Montana and the Dakotas. UGP staff collected $281.8 million in power sales revenue and $160.8 million in transmission and ancillary service revenue in Fiscal Year 2020.
“Lloyd has an extensive and illustrious career in federal service and in power market administrations. His expert leadership, skillful interpersonal skills and familiarity with regulations and customers will help lead UGP and WAPA through the evolving energy industry,” said WAPA Interim Administrator Tracey A. LeBeau. “It is my pleasure to welcome Lloyd to the senior leadership team.”
Linke has 38 years of experience in the electrical power industry, much of that experience at WAPA. Linke has served as acting UGP regional manager since June 13. Previously, he was the VP of Operations for UGP where he was responsible for the operation and planning of UGP’s transmission system and led UGP’s entry into the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization in 2015. Before that, he served as administrator of Alaska Power Administration from October 1987 through May 1996. Linke started his career at WAPA in January 1983 and served several roles in maintenance, construction, power billing, marketing, and operations of high-voltage transmission systems and hydroelectric generation facilities.
Linke is also a leader in the industry, serving on numerous committees in the Midwest Reliability Organization, Norther American Electric Reliability Corporation and Southwest Power Pool. Linke possesses a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from North Dakota State University and hails from Bismarck, North Dakota.
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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 25,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.
Last modified on September 12th, 2023