9570

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9570
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Preliminary Analysis
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: Wayne N. Aspinall Unit Operations and the Federal Water Right Claim, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
• Copyright Material: NO

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factors, escalation of annual costs, and the volatility of the power market as experienced during
the summer of 2000. The cost estimates were based on average annual generation without
consideration given to the peaking capabilities at Morrow Point and Blue Mesa Power Plants
where the generation can be adjusted frequently to meet power system demands. The value of
the power is greater when produced during peak demand periods. Also, during periods of
spilling at Crystal Dam it is necessary to curtail peaking operations at Morrow Point Power Plant
so as to avoid large fluctuations below Crystal Dam. Power system economic impacts should be
evaluated using power system models so that a more accurate representation of system operations
is portrayed. These economic impacts would then be incorporated into Western Area Power
Administration's repayment study to determine the need for a rate increase to its customers.
Reclamation staff did not have this capability in-house nor the time available to work with
Western to perform power system modeling and an assessment of economic impacts and the
associated potential rate increase to power and project use customers.
As a consequence of National and regional electric reliability requirements, Reclamation and
Western are required to maintain adequate reserves to assist in providing power system
regulation and emergency response capability. Morrow Point and Blue Mesa Power plants are
important assets in meeting these requirements. However, during the proposed operational
scenarios, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa Power plants would not be able to provide regulation or
respond to power system emergencies as has been the historical practice. Additionally, other
CRSP generating facilities such as Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon outside the Aspinall area
may not have the capability to provide regulation or to respond to the emergency or may be
limited in their response by transmission constraints.
The proposed scenarios create other power system operational difficulties with associated
economic impacts. During power system interruptions, Morrow Point is the only hydroelectric
power plant of sufficient size that can provide "black start" capability to the large coal-fired
thermal plants in the western Colorado area. Also, under the modeled scenarios, voltage and
frequency control for the power system is eliminated from the Aspinall Unit and would need to
be purchased from other resources.
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