WSP05409 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

power plant (northeastern Utah) and the Aspmall Unit (western Colorado) of the CRSP, the Upper and Lower ,\10Iina powerplants of the Coli bran Project (western Colorado), and possibly the Elephant Butte power plant of the Rio Grande Project (New ;\1exico). Any operational changes to reduce the hourly variation in water releases through these power plants could further reduce the total capacity available to SLeAlIP firm power customers. SLCAIIP Electric Power Marketing EIS In addition to serving Reclamation project use loads, \Vestem markets surplus SLCMP firm power through long.term wholesale firm electric senice contracts to eligible public power utilities These contracts identifY each customer's share of the total SLIP conunitmenl level. The SLIP comnlltment level was recently reestablished through a public process that concluded \\ith the completion of Western's Electric Power Marketing EIS (EPM-EIS) in January 1996. Imtially, Western began the EIS process to determine the environmental impacts of Western.s then-proposed changes to the level of long-term firm electric capacity and energy sales from the SLCMP. The EPf\.1.EIS concluded that most impacts to natural and cultural resources would result from hydropower operations rather than from commitment levels. This is due to the fact that commitment levels are only weakly linked to hydropower operations. The EPM-EIS recommended that selection of a high energy and high capacity conurutmcnt level. referred to as the Post-1989 level. This firm power commitment le\-e! establishes an upper hnut for Western to provide capacity and energy. This commitment level. outlined m customer contracts \.,.Jtich expire in 2004. was approved on October 17, 1996 when the EP~1.EIS Record of Decision was Signed by Western.s Administrator, J.M Shafer. Current Western Power Purchasing Practices The Replacement Resources Pro. cess relates to Western.s power purchas- mg authorities and practices. Western has the authomy to purchase power to comple- ment the variable nature of Federal hydroelectric power generated at Recla- mation projects. When establishing long- term firm capacity and energy commit- ment levels, \\'estem considers many relevant factors, such as hydroelectric generator capability, transmission limita- tions, annual snowpack conditions and resen.oir end-of-month target storage conditions. \Vestern regularly purchases power on the spot market on a short-term basiS because of shortfalls in hydroelectric generation, variations in the market price of power, and to relieve transmission limitations. This is a standard operating practice of electric utilities and provides Western flexibility to respond to customer needs during Urnes of varying electricity demand Contract Amendment on Replacement Power Purchases Western has worked with a group of Its SLeMP firm-power customer repre- sentati\.es [0 develop and implement contract amendments that acconunodate replacement power decisions, and to address other Impacts of changed opera- Uons at federal power resources. These contract amendments establish a prudent long-term commitment level of sustain. ablf hydropo......er (SHP) and address the replacement of unavailable power at GCD - ~ Western has worked with a glOOpofitsSlCMPfirm- powll'cuslllmer representatives to develop and implementcontr.d ilI11Il'1mtsthat ~Ie replacement power decisioos. D