WSP12322

• File Number: 8281.950
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Upper Colorado Comprehensive Framework Study
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1971
• Title: Upper Colorado Region Comprehensive Framework Study - Appendix XIV - Electric Power
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

o
(-~)
I," )
oc
1\)
...;t

SUMMARY

Electric power developments in the Upper Colorado Region began
when isolated mining camps turned to hydroelectric power as a depend-
able low-cost means to serve their power demands. A plant located
near Telluride,Colorado, is considered to be the first plant in the
United States to transmit alternating current to supply machinery and
lighting at the then high voltage of 3,000 volts. Additional hydro-
electric projects and small diesel-electric plants were developed as
the Region became settled and the need for electric energy grew. Soon,
however, small steam-electric plants were built to serve growing loads
within,"the Region.

In the 1950's larger steam-electric generating plants were built,
not only to supply local loads, but also for export to the Salt Lake
area. It was not until 1963, however. that large scale steam-electric
plants were built to take advantage of low-cost coal with their total
output intended for export. Authorization of the Colorado River Stor-
age Project and Participating Projects by Congress in 1956 has resulted
in addition of hydroelectric power generating units at several reser-
voirs. CRSP capacity had reached 1,128,000 kW by the end of 1968. An
additional 120,000 kW is under construction at the Morrow Point plant
and 28,000 kW is authorized at the Crystal plant. At the present time
most of the power generated at these plants is exported. These exports
will continue until ,load growth in the Region makes power saleable there.

By 1965, utility loads in the Region,had grown to 380 megawatts of
peak demand with energy requirements of over two million megawatt hours.
Generating capacity installed to,meet these local loads and for export
power was 2,450 MW. The Region will need resources, including reserves,
of 1,300 MW by 1980, almost 3.5 times the demand of 1965. By 2020, these
local requirements will reach 7,900 ~~, about 21 times the 1965 demand.
Projected power requirements are consistent with the level of development
of the Regionally Interpreted OBERS plan. Figures for future years are
estimates and constitute only one of the many possible long:-range plans
for power development.

Generating resources in the three target years will far exceed
regional needs. Total generating capacity will reach 14,700 MW in 1980,
and 43,400 MW in 2000. The capacity predicted for the year 2000 is the
ultimate level expected for the Region. No new hydroelectric generation
is predicted for development beyond those projects currently under con-
struction or authorized and steam-electric generation will be developed
to the limit of water available for condenser cooling by the year 2000.
The Region will continue to be ~n export area for the foreseeable future.

iii