​Name: Jennifer Henn, federal employee

Title: Public Utilities Specialist

Location: Folsom, California

Region: Sierra Nevada

When did you start working with WAPA? I started working at WAPA in 2000 right out of college. Since then I've held a number of positions in the Phoenix, Montrose and Folsom offices.

What is the most interesting thing you have worked on at WAPA? I've had the opportunity to work on many great projects over the last 17 years, but the most exciting times were as a project manager coordinating spring runoff for the Colorado River Storage Project and then getting to stand under the Crystal Dam spillway. Field visits and hydroelectric powerplant tours were always a highlight.

What do you wish people understood about your job and the work you do? Ratemaking is far more complex than most people realize. Capital repayment may seem simple until we consider that some assets take 50 years to repay and our industry is constantly evolving with compliance requirements, market initiatives, regulations and ever-changing hydrology. Analysts must understand WAPA-wide and regional operations, and sometimes the best way for us to stay current is to put on our detective hats and ask a lot of questions to track down history and mounds of data. With that in mind, know that the Rates department enjoys learning about new projects and changes to old configurations. So, when in doubt, tell Rates!​

Tell us something about yourself we wouldn't find on your resume. I just celebrated 20 years with my college sweetheart and we have two sons, aged 7 and 5. When I'm not busy reading Magic Tree House books with my kids, you can usually find me digging in the garden or satisfying my Zumba addiction.

How is what you do tied to WAPA's mission? My job is to develop stable, lowest-possible-cost-based rates using sound business principles. This directly aligns with WAPA's mission to market and deliver clean, renewable, reliable, cost-based federal hydroelectric power and related services.