7416

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7416
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Flaming Gorge Aspinall Joint Operations Study December, 15, 1988-Draft.
• USFW Year: 1988.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

F. SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Further consideration must be given to the flexibility afforded
Western when generation at Flaming Gorge is not restricted. As
described earlier, transmission capability in the Flaming Gorge
area is limited. Current generation at Flaming Gorge reduces the
need to meet load requirements in Utah from generation facilities
in Colorado and thus reduces the loading on Utah to Colorado
transmission facilities. The economic impact of this factor
escapes quantification but may affect Western's operations.
Contracts allow customers and Western some flexibility in
scheduling energy delivered from Western. Western's customers
may not be directly affected by rescheduled generation at Flaming
Gorge and Aspinall but Western may have to purchase energy to
meet its customers' needs. Therefore, given existing load
patterns, thermal energy suppliers will either need to reschedule
generation to meet the demands of Western's customers or
reschedule to meet Western's demands.
Whatever assumptions are used by Western, the rescheduling of
energy generated at Flaming Gorge and Aspinall will affect the
power generating industry. The value of this impact is measured
by comparing current operating conditions in the industry with
potential operating conditions after dam operations are refined.
The value of unavailable power from Flaming Gorge is the increase
in the Project rate and the partial loss of use of 47 MW of
generating capacity. The traditional method is to value this
power at thermal plant replacement rates. The value of
rescheduled generation at Flaming Gorge and Aspinall is the
decrease in generation in one season multiplied by its market
price in that season minus the subsequent increase in generation
in the other season times its market price in that season.
Some estimates of these costs were developed for the Recovery
Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper
Colorado River Basin Environmental Assesment. The estimates are
outlined in Appendix C, Alternative Thermal Plant Study for
Flaming Gorge (attached). The following is a summation of the
value of lost capacity and rescheduled generation. This estimate
is based on the assumption that lost capacity would be replaced
with a thermal facility.
Flaming Gorge Unavailable Capacity: ($5,835,050)
Flaming Gorge Rescheduled Energy: (298,189)
Aspinall Rescheduled Energy: 47,000
Future Value of Societal Impacts ($6,086,239)
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