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EIA Analysis of Southwest Hydropower Generation Shows Record Lows and Slow Recovery

LCG, November 13, 2026--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) today issued an "In-Brief Analysis" highlighting the record lows for hydropower generation in the Southwest this summer. The prolonged drought conditions affecting the Colorado River Basin caused record low hydropower generation this summer in the Southwestern electricity supply region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, and small parts of Nevada and California. Hydropower generation from April through August 2026 was a full 28 percent lower than the 10-year average and 19 percent lower than during the same period last year.

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NRC Issues Construction Permit for Long Mott High-Temperature, Gas-Cooled Reactor in Texas

LCG, November 11, 2026--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on November 9 that it has approved the Construction Permit Application ("CPA") for the Long Mott Generating Station in Texas. Long Mott Energy, LLC (LME) must obtain a separate operating license from the NRC before loading fuel or operating the reactors.

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Industry News

Cal-ISO Bills Water Agency $1 Billion for Power

LCG, Nov. 27, 2001--The California Independent System Operator, which purchases power on the volatile spot market to protect the state's transmission system, has sent a bill for $1 billion to the California Department of Water Resources, which purchases power on behalf of the state's investor-owned utilities, which don't have the money to pay for it.

The CDWR didn't actually purchase power from Cal-ISO, but the rationale seems to be that the water agency would have had to buy the power if Cal-ISO hadn't, so it should pay the ISO even if the money is really owed to the companies that produced the power.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week, in response to filings by independent power producers, ordered Cal-ISO to pay its overdue power bills. The ISO had said it didn't really owe the money because it was simply a scheduling coordinator and not a creditworthy power purchaser.

FERC said simply that the power producers had to be paid for the power requisitioned and scheduled by the ISO.

Cal-ISO said in a filing of its own last week that it would get the money from the CDWR and pay all its past due bills by next February 7, but the payments would have to come in installments, if FERC approves.

Cal-ISO also said payment depended on the CDWR responding to its invoices.

Gary Ackerman, executive director of the Western Power Trading Forum, a trade association representing the power producers, said "We are anxiously waiting for an answer from CDWR."

He added, "We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic -- just iffy."

There is a lot to be "iffy" about -- or very little on which one can hang his hat. The CDWR is arguing with FERC over matters of jurisdiction. The ISO says CDWR is just an agent for the cash-strapped utilities and the utilities are the ones who schedule the power anyway. Except the ISO also says it has to schedule power to protect the transmission grid.

We can't figure it out. But we do know that Cal-ISO has asked the CDWR to pay it for $1 billion worth of power it didn't sell to the CDWR.

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