Lessened drought conditions on West Coast prompt rebound in hydroelectric generation

Relief is in sight for the West Coast after several years of intense drought, which could lead to a rebound in hydroelectric generation.

In mid-2014, the U.S. Drought Monitor declared nearly 60 percent of the state of California to be in a state of “exceptional drought,” resulting in the first-ever mandatory water restrictions in the state’s history in 2015, the governor’s pronouncement of a state of drought emergency and severely reduced rates of hydroelectric power generation throughout the western states.

At present, areas of exceptional drought in California encompass only 21 percent of the state – not yet a return to normal circumstances, but with more than 5 percent of the state now removed from any drought conditions, these circumstances are the best the state has seen since March 2013. The West Coast benefited this year from El Niño weather systems depositing increased precipitation to restore reservoirs and snowpack in the region.

After five years of annual decline in hydroelectric power generation in California, Oregon and Washington from 2011 to 2015 due to the drought, hydroelectric power produced in thesthree states now totals 120 million megawatthours (MWh), down from 177 million MWh in 2011. While low natural gas prices allowed gas-fired generation to compensate for the decline, 2016 has seen hydroelectric generation begin to increase again thanks to improved conditions.