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Generation and Loads
Page Content
Renewable Portfolio Standards
Avista maintains a diversified portfolio of generation. The company must comply with renewable portfolio standards detailed in Washington’s Energy Independence Act and must use eligible renewable resources, renewable energy credits (RECs) or a combination of both to meet the following annual targets: 3 percent of energy used to meet customer demand by Jan. 1, 2012, 9 percent by Jan. 1, 2016, and 15 percent by Jan. 1, 2020.
To meet the 2012 targets, Avista has added qualifying renewable generation capacity with upgrades at its hydroelectric projects and purchased RECs.
2011 Generation Resource Mix
| Hydroelectric |
|
50% |
| Company-owned hydro |
42% |
|
| Long-term contracts |
8% |
|
| Natural gas |
|
35% |
| Coal |
|
10% |
| Biomass |
|
2% |
| Wind contract |
|
2% |
| Other contracts |
|
1% |
Installed capacity, generation capability
Net Energy Output by primary energy source
| Project Name |
Present generation capability (MW) |
Nameplate rating (installed capacity) (MW) |
Net energy output (MWh) |
Primary energy source |
Regulatory regime* |
| Upper Falls |
10.2 |
10.0 |
71,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Monroe Street |
15.0 |
14.8 |
106,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Nine Mile |
17.6 |
26.4 |
101,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Post Falls |
18.0 |
14.8 |
90,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Little Falls |
34.6 |
32.0 |
201,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Long Lake |
87.0 |
70.0 |
480,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Cabinet Gorge |
254.6 |
265.0 |
942,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Noxon Rapids** |
562.4 |
480.6 |
1,503,000 |
Hydro |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Total hydro |
999.4 |
913.6 |
3,494,000 |
|
|
| Kettle Falls GS |
50.0 |
50.7 |
312,000 |
Biomass (Wood Waste) |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Kettle Falls CT |
6.9 |
7.2 |
3,500 |
Natural Gas |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Boulder Park |
24.0 |
24.6 |
11,000 |
Natural Gas |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Coyote Springs 2 |
278.3 |
287.0 |
1,677,000 |
Natural Gas |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Northeast CT |
56.3 |
61.8 |
12,000 w/Rathdrum |
Natural Gas |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Rathdrum CT |
149.0 |
166.5 |
|
Natural Gas |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Colstrip Units 3 & 4 |
222.0 |
233.4 |
1,749,000 |
Coal (Mine Mouth) |
WUTC and IPUC |
| Total thermal |
786.5 |
831.2 |
3,764,500 |
|
|
| Total generation properties |
1776.4 |
1,744.8 |
|
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|
| * Even though projects are located in Idaho and Washington, neither the IPUC nor the WUTC exercises exclusive jurisdiction since none of our company-owned generation assets are currently assigned to a specific state where they are located. Generation assets are split with about 65 percent being attributed to Washington and about 35 percent to Idaho. |
| ** Unit upgrades at our Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric plant contributed to an incremental increase in generation capability at the plant in 2010. |
Average generation efficiency of thermal plants by energy source
Thermal generation is approximately 44 percent of Avista’s total generation capability. Each facility has a specific purpose in Avista’s diversified generation portfolio—whether it is for economic or load demand efficiencies.
| Plant name |
Energy source |
Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
| Boulder Park |
Natural Gas |
9,025 |
| Colstrip |
Coal |
11,950 |
| Coyote Springs 2 |
Natural Gas |
6,827 |
| Kettle Falls |
Biomass |
13,500 |
| Kettle Falls CT |
Natural Gas |
8,750 |
| Northeast |
Natural Gas |
12,825 |
| Rathdrum |
Natural Gas |
11,950 |
Average plant availability factor by energy source
| Boulder Park* |
Natural Gas |
95.3% |
| Colstrip |
Coal |
96.2% |
| Coyote Springs 2 |
Natural Gas |
94.1% |
| Kettle Falls |
Biomass |
97.3% |
| Kettle Falls CT |
Natural Gas |
100% |
| Hydroelectric facilities |
Hydro |
91.9% |
| Rathdrum* |
Natural Gas |
98.4% |
| Northeast CT* |
Natural Gas |
78.2% |
| * Peaker unit—used only in times of significant energy demand |
Total water discharge by quality and destination—thermal generation
| |
Annual water use |
| Coyote Springs 2-Natural Gas |
| Combustion turbine (CT) make up—For cooling; it replenishes the evaporation and blow down in the cooling tower. |
398 million gallons |
| Evaporation pond—This is the site storm water drainage off of the pavement and outside areas. The water is only pumped off site if there is more water in the flow than can be evaporated. It dries up in the summer. |
250,000 gallons |
| CT Blow down—This is to remove the concentrated solids that result from the evaporation rate in the CT. |
87 million gallons |
| Waste—This is the water that is collected from the drains inside of the plant buildings and includes the water going through the sample panels and various small bleeds for coolers, air compressor, accumulator blow down, loop seal overflow, along with any leaks we might have in valves or seals. |
92 million gallons |
| Boiler make up—This is water that is made for the steam turbine use. |
3.9 million gallons |
| Kettle Falls-Biomass |
| Discharge Water |
34 million gallons |
| Make-up Water |
198 million gallons |
| Colstrip-Coal |
| Waste water, storm water |
Zero discharge plant. All water is captured and stored in facility storage ponds. |
Waste Water Discharge—by National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits
| |
2010 |
| Cabinet Gorge hydroelectric development |
50,000 gallons |
| Spokane service center |
250 million gallons |
Length of above and underground transmission by voltage
Electric
- 18,200 miles of distribution lines
- 685 miles of 230 kV transmission lines
- 1,535 miles of 115 kV transmission lines
- 500 miles of 500 kV transmission lines (11% ownership in Colstrip to Townsend, MT line)
Natural Gas
Avista owns 7,650 miles of natural gas distribution lines. The company does not own any interstate gas transportation pipelines, only contractual rights, and receives gas at over 60 points along interstate pipelines (over 40 points in the North Division and over 20 points in the South Division).
2010 Electric and Natural Gas Loads
| Electric average hourly load (aMW) |
1,075 |
| Peak electric native load (aMW) |
|
| Summer (retail) |
1,556 |
| Winter (retail) |
1,704 |
| Peak natural gas day demand (Dth) |
272,517 |
Environmental fines and sanctions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Avista entered into a Consent Agreement on Feb. 17, 2010 as a result of an accidental oil discharge into water at Avista’s Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric Dam in Montana in 2009. The terms of the agreement were as follows:
- Avista agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $7,500.
- Avista agreed to undertake a Supplement Environmental Project (SEP) in the purchase of a spill response trailer for the responders in the lower Clark Fork watershed, which is now accessible to the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC). Avista has provided a secure, year-round accessible location for the trailer.
- By making available emergency oil response equipment to responders in the lower Clark Fork watershed, this SEP advances the objective of the Oil Pollution Act by minimizing the impact of oil and hazardous substances spill into the Clark Fork River.
- The consent agreement requires Avista to state when making reference to the SEP: “This project was undertaken as part of settlement of an enforcement action.”
Avista purchased and delivered the spill trailer and all spill materials to the Clark Fork HED on Sept. 6, 2010. The total cost was $29,386. Avista submitted the Completion Report to EPA on Sept. 28, 2010 to fulfill the terms of the Consent Agreement.
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