An apparatus, system, and method efficiently manage transmission power in a user equipment (UE) device by maintaining and applying an authorized power level to determine a transmission power level after a power limited transmission and before a new power control command has been received. The UE device maintains the authorized power level by monitoring and adjusting the authorized power level based on received power control commands. After a power limited transmission where the maximum power level is less than the authorized power level, the UE device determines the transmission power level for the next transmission based on the authorized power level. Accordingly, after the power limiting situation has ceased, the UE device transmits at the optimum power level eliminating the inefficiencies of transmitting at a lower than authorized power before the next power control command is received.