Title: Public Utilities Specialist
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Region: Colorado River Storage Project Management Center
When did you start working with WAPA? I began working in the Energy Management and Marketing Office in April 2010.
What is the most interesting thing you have worked on at WAPA? The most exciting and interesting opportunity I had was my trip down the Grand Canyon as a part of the Integrated Tribal River Trip. That’s one I will never forget! The opportunity to see how all of the different stakeholders’ interests fit together was extremely interesting and valuable in getting a better perspective of the Grand Canyon and all of the resources involved. I am intrigued and amazed by how complex the entire system is. It makes me proud to have a part in it! It was also very exciting to get the opportunity to share WAPA’s mission and story with the participants.
What do you wish people understood about your job and the work you do? I oversee and coordinate a large variety of things specific to the Colorado River System and our resources on it. It begins with close coordination with the Bureau of Reclamation on current and projected hydrology to determine our needs in terms of available resource and customer obligations. Looking several months to a year out, I coordinate the purchase of energy from the market to fill any discrepancy between our resources and our obligations. I also coordinate with WAPA biologists and external partners on river recreation, cultural considerations and fish and wildlife to ensure we are scheduling each powerplant within the appropriate environmental restrictions and water release requirements, while maximizing the energy output to cover customer loads.
Tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t find on your resume. I love to be outdoors. Whether it’s snowmobiling, dirt biking, hiking or hanging out on a river, it’s truly my passion and I am so lucky to live in an area that allows me to do all of that.
How is what you do tied to WAPA’s mission? I work with a team to ensure we are delivering our federal hydropower efficiently and economically. All of the work we do ensures we are meeting our customers’ needs efficiently and keeping our purchased power as low as possible.
