Western Area Power Administration markets and delivers reliable, cost-based hydroelectric power and related services within a 15-state region of the central and western U.S. and is one of four power marketing administrations within the U.S. Department of Energy whose role it is to market and transmit electricity from multi-use water projects. Western's transmission system carries electricity from 55 hydropower plants operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the International Boundary and Water Commission. Together, these plants have a capacity of 10,600 megawatts. Western started its automation projects with the goal of reducing the construction cost of new substations. Western estimated it could save 40 percent in building size and cost alone. Western also estimated similar savings could be realized in control panel costs with integrated digital controls.
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