January 17, 2007

Auglaize hydro plant ends year with record production

By LOU PENDLETON

The Auglaize Hydroelectric Plant set a new record for power generation in 2006. According to figures released today by Bryan Municipal Utilities, the power dam produced 13,637,035 kilowatt hours last year – enough to power 1,337 average homes for one year.

“We had all our units running and we had a great water year,” said Craig Preston, assistant director of utilities. “It would rain a few days and then stop and then rain again. We had perfect conditions for generating.”

Producing 3,989,115-kilowatt hours more than the previous peak in 2005, Mr. Preston said the Auglaize plant output greatly exceeded expectations. “We keep improving operations of the plant, and we expect to generate as much or even better this year with similar precipitation.”

Dan Froelich, Auglaize superintendent, said the plant operators are getting better at monitoring the water upriver. “We watch the gauges at Fort Jennings on the Little Auglaize River and at Findlay on the Blanchard River and stay ahead of the water.”

Water levels are also monitored at that Power Plant in Bryan. Mr. Froelich said the power plant operators relay water level information and alarms to the operators at the power dam. “We can bring production up by monitoring the water closer and starting our generators sooner.”

Coordinating with the Power Plant in Bryan, operators can run the Auglaize generation at peak times during the day and reduce high-priced demand charges. In 2006, the Auglaize plant saved Bryan more than $400,000 in power supply cost.

In addition to saving money, the Auglaize plant helps the environment. Hydroelectric power is an emission-free energy source and every kilowatt generated by the plant replaces power purchased from coal-burning power plants. The Auglaize plant avoids burning tons of coal and air emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide pollutants, which contribute to acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming.

The Auglaize hydro plant has six generating units differing in size and design. The two largest units generate 1,100 kW; three other units at the plant generate 725 kW each. The smallest turbine, used for minimum flows, generates 160 kW. The full capacity output of the plant is 4,535 kW.

“In 2007, we plan to rewind one of the units we had an outage on in 2006,” said Mr. Preston. “At that time, we are going to rewind it at a higher output to better utilize the water and get more out of the machine.”

The Auglaize dam provides about four percent of Bryan's power needs. Part ownership of the Belleville Hydro Dam on the Ohio River provides another four percent. Bryan Municipal Utilities purchases another two percent from New York Power Authority's Niagara Falls Dam. Thus, about 10 percent of Bryan's power supply comes from clean, renewable hydroelectric power.

The Auglaize production data is available online: Click Here.