usbr.gov

With the drought, Hoover Dam's capacity to generate electricity is down about 25%.

This weekend, the water in Lake Mead briefly dropped to the lowest level since it was first filled in the 1930s.

That decline results in less power coming from the turbines. In fact, Hoover Dam’s capacity to generate electricity is down about 25 percent.

As the drought stretches into the summer months, that will probably remain the case, but do not expect your lights to go off.

Rose Davis is with the Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the dam. She says the power companies are not expected to need the full amount of power, now or during the summer.

“Even with the lake levels as low as they are, and they are going to dip quite low this summer, we will be able to meet the orders and the needs of the power companies,” said Davis.

Hoover Dam is a peak power plant, meaning it only supplies electricity when called upon. Davis said they are putting in new turbines that are more efficient when the lake level gets low. So long as the water elevation does not drop below 900 feet, known as "dead pool elevation," she said Hoover Dam will be able to keeping churning out electricity.