Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) has refreshed its mission and vision statements, setting a direction and tone for 2021 and beyond.
The new statements support WAPA’s goal to remain relevant and valuable to its customers and the nation while operating at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business principles.
"We developed our new mission and vision statements while reflecting on our commitment to our core values and dedication to customers and the communities we serve,” said WAPA Administrator and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. “Beginning this year with a renewed sense of purpose helps us refocus our efforts, cuts through the noise and clarifies who we are as an organization.”
WAPA’s mission is vast. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy, it provides affordable, clean, secure and reliable hydropower to 700 utilities, customers and generators across 15 central and western states. WAPA markets this hydropower from 57 federal hydroelectric dams and multi-purpose water projects and delivers it through a more than 17,000-mile high-voltage transmission system, which represents a significant share of the West’s electric grid. WAPA’s customers, in turn, pass on the energy and benefits of hydropower to more than 40 million Americans.
The new mission and vision emphasize the value WAPA places on relationships with its customers and communities.
- Mission: Safely provide reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to customers and the communities it serves.
- Vision: Empowering communities, securing a resilient energy future.
At the heart of WAPA’s new mission statement is safety, a cornerstone of the electric industry. Only by paying constant attention to safety can WAPA and its customers succeed in fulfilling their respective missions. Empowering communities with carbon-free energy means driving economic development, providing a sense of security and stability and protecting the environment. Last year, the energy industry remained resilient amid a series of disruptions including a global pandemic, a record-setting wildfire season and a heatwave-induced energy emergency.
“The electricity we provide to customers, who, in turn, deliver it to more than 40 million Americans, empowers the communities that power the nation,” Gabriel said. “Keeping the lights on and the power flowing to homes, businesses and institutions allows Americans to focus on more important things, such as their families and improving their prosperity.”
