WAPA’s Annual Customer Meeting 2024 

On April 3, 2024, the Western Area Power Administration convened its Annual Customer Meeting, continuing its tradition of fostering open dialogue and collaboration with its customers and stakeholders.  

Held in a hybrid format, the event allowed participants to engage in person and virtually, ensuring widespread accessibility and participation. 

A year of strategic advancements and challenges 

The meeting opened with WAPA Chief of Staff Christopher Lawrence welcoming attendees and setting the stage for a day of insightful discussions. Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau then took the podium, reflecting on a year of significant change and adaptation within WAPA and the broader energy sector. LeBeau emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts to balance mission achievement with the evolving dynamics of work, infrastructure aging and the ever-present physical and cybersecurity threats. 

A core focus of LeBeau’s remarks was the importance of safety within WAPA’s operations. Acknowledging a rise in incidents, she outlined a comprehensive strategy for revamping WAPA’s safety culture and protocols, striving for a safer and more resilient future. 

LeBeau also highlighted WAPA’s proactive stance on transmission system resilience, including exploring market opportunities for enhanced reliability and cost efficiency. She detailed the progress toward integrating with the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization and the strategic expansions to modernize infrastructure to meet current and future demands. 

Operational insights and cybersecurity priorities 

Executive Vice President and COO Tina Ko provided an overview of the operational landscape, stressing the challenges of aging infrastructure, physical security threats and critical material procurement lead times. Ko’s discussion underscored the importance of vigilance and preparedness in the face of diverse threats to WAPA’s extensive operational footprint. 

Also presenting was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mike Montoya. Montoya emphasized to attendees how cyber-attacks continued to be an evolving threat landscape for WAPA, and he highlighted the critical measures in place to safeguard the organization’s digital and physical assets. Montoya’s update on budget implications and strategic initiatives, including adopting Zero Trust Architecture, reinforced WAPA’s commitment to cybersecurity excellence.