Abstract: There are abundant hydropower resources in southwest China. The development and utilization of southwest hydropower has an important strategic significance for optimizing China’s energy structure and promoting the development of low carbon economy. Recently, the abandoned water in the southwest hydropower stations has attracted much more attentions and been widely concerned. This paper studies the present situation and problems, and puts forward some important countermeasures and suggestions for reasonable and efficient exploitation of hydropower in southwest China according to a number of factors in terms of the power system planning, power distribution network planning, environmental protection policies, market, and interest reallocation mechanism.

Key words: southwest hydropower, abandoned water, power system reform, predicament, countermeasure