LCRA was given the "Gold Level" Leadership Circle Award for financial transparency by the Texas Comptroller for Public Accounts in 2010 and 2011. LCRA was the first river authority in Texas to be awarded the highest level designation.

LCRA is a unique state government organization. It receives no state tax revenues, but operates by selling electricity, electric transmission and water services at cost. It does not levy taxes or receive specific appropriations from any government. As a conservation and reclamation district of the State of Texas, it is generally exempt from paying taxes, though its affiliates, LCRA Transmission Services Corporation and GenTex Power Corporation, pay property and sales taxes.

LCRA's FY 2012 Business Plan projects total net revenues of more than $1.2 billion for its 2012 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, mostly from its electric operations: electric generation (70 percent) and transmission (24 percent). The FY 2012 Business Plan projects total operating expenses during the same period will be $789.2 million. About 62 percent of that amount, roughly $492.6 million, will pay for coal, natural gas, renewable energy and purchased power to provide electricity for LCRA's 43 wholesale electric customers. The remainder will pay for LCRA's power plant, transmission, dam and parks operations, plus river and water-supply management, water and wastewater utilities, and economic and community development services.

In LCRA's 2010 Annual Report, the most recent available, LCRA's total assets were $4.5 billion as of June 30, 2010. Capital assets accounted for nearly $3.5 billion, or 77 percent of total assets. Capital assets increased by roughly $212 million, or 7 percent, during fiscal year 2010, as LCRA upgraded or expanded its facilities to continue providing efficient and reliable electric and water services, enhance productivity, meet growing demand and carry out environmental initiatives.

Reinvesting in communities
Each year, LCRA reinvests a portion of water and electric revenues into communities through direct services and grants. These services include parks, public safety, environmental protection, and economic development assistance. Grants are provided for community development purposes.

Rates for electricity, water and water utilities are set by LCRA's Board of Directors. The Public Utility Commission of Texas approves transmission rates.

Each of LCRA's business units benefits from LCRA's unified pledge of system-wide revenues to pay debt obligations. LCRA had an outstanding debt of approximately $3.1 billion as of June 30, 2010. Investment analysts at Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's maintained their favorable bond ratings.

Operating  units
LCRA has four operating units -- Wholesale Power Services, Transmission Services, Water Services and Community Services. In addition, a Corporate Services unit provides shared and corporate services. 

LCRA has two major separate affiliates: GenTex Power Corporation (GenTex), a nonprofit electric generation affiliate that owns Lost Pines 1; and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation, a nonprofit, taxable transmission affiliate that seeks to provide transmission services throughout Texas.

For more financial information, see LCRA's annual report. 

The graph below, taken from LCRA’s FY 2012 Business Plan, summarizes the sources of LCRA’s total projected revenues for FY 2012 and their projected use during the fiscal year. The graph on the bottom also reflects revenues and expenses for FY 2012, but it excludes fuel and purchased power revenues and expense. This provides a more detailed look at nonfuel expenses that were forecast as part of LCRA’s FY 2012 Business Plan.