Drought threatens to raise power costs this fall

Added: 2026-05-29

[00:00:00]It got down. Okay. Governor Hobbes expected to travel to the Arizona Nevada border tonight. She's going to address the ongoing drought and water worries at Lake Me, the Hoover Dam there. Her visit comes as energy experts warn shrinking water levels could impact electricity costs. Why? That's because the Hoover Dam, which has a big generator right there inside the dam, could see power generation drop by as much as 80% by the end of the year. Joe Dana explains.

[00:00:28]When we talk about drought, we usually talk about water scarcity, but it's also about power. The reduced amount of water passing through Glen Canyon down the Colorado River 300 miles to Lake Meade is expected to impact Hoover Dam's ability to produce power in the fall.

[00:00:46]And that could impact all of us. It's all connected. Drought, snowpack, water runoff, and hydro power generated by these marvels of technology. The dams have served us well, but Lake Powell and Lake Meet are at crisis levels. Water director Tom Buchsky is chief negotiator for Colorado River Resources.

[00:01:05]>> Well, it's going to go down to an elevation in which we're going to lose a bunch of hydro power generation and again, you're kind of using up your bank account, right?

[00:01:13]>> He says water levels may drop another 20 ft by the end of the year at Lake Me.

[00:01:18]>> I think you lose about 80% of the hydrogeneration when you get to that elevation at Lake me.

[00:01:23]>> Okay, that's a lot. That is a lot.

[00:01:26]>> About 20% of Hoover's generation goes to our state. So, where will power companies in the Southwest get that lost electricity?

[00:01:34]>> You've got to go on the grid to find it.

[00:01:36]You have to assume since they're going onto the grid and hydropower is one of the cheaper uh sources of power. You could expect that impact to occur. As Governor Katie Hobbs prepares to visit the Lake me region tomorrow, she declined to speculate on how the water shortage could affect electricity markets.

[00:01:54]>> I'm concerned about any actions that are going to increase costs for Arizonans uh and others. And that's why we've been fighting so hard uh to ensure that we're protecting the infrastructure and the power generation at Lake Me.

[00:02:07]>> Joe Dana, 12 News.

[00:02:09]>> All right, Joe. Thank you. Ahead on 12 News.