Southeastern Power Administration SEPA

Southeastern Power Administration, also known as SEPA, is a Power Marketing Administration (PMA) established in 1950 by the Secretary of Interior to fulfill the functions assigned to the Secretary by the Flood Control Act of 1944. In 1977, the Department of Energy (DOE) was created, transferring SEPA and other agencies to its department. SEPA is headquartered in Elberton, GA, in the southeastern region of the United States. SEPA has the authority to market hydroelectric power and energy in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The hydroelectric power marketed comes from reservoir projects operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). SEPA markets the power and energy generated by the Federal reservoir projects at the lowest possible cost to its consumers. SEPA encourages the widespread use of the power marketed as preference in the sale of power is given to public bodies and cooperatives, referred to as preference customers. Unlike other PMAs, SEPA does not own transmission lines. Therefore, SEPA contracts with other utilities to provide transmission services for the delivery of Federal Power. SEPA has many responsibilities as a PMA, including negotiating, preparing, executing, and administering contracts for the sale of electric power. SEPA prepares wholesale rates and repayment studies for Corps’ reservoir projects, supporting deliveries made to serve contractual loads. SEPA schedules hydropower generation at the Corps’ facilities located within SEPA’s marketing area.