Date of Award:

5-1979

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department name when degree awarded

Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

R. Kern Stutler

Committee

R. Kern Stutler

Abstract

All electric power utility companies are faced with yearly peak demands. They must supply sufficient generating capacity along with transmission and distribution facilities to carry these loads. In the past, peaking requirements of many utilities have been met by the use of gas turbines, which are not as efficient as base load plants, but require substantially lower capital investments. However, the fuel supplies used for gas turbines are becoming extremely difficult and expensive to procure and as a result, other means for meeting peak demands are being examined.

Energy management attempts to modify the power systems' load requirements to fit the systems' generating capacity, rather than supplying the generating capacity to meet the systems' load.

Irrigation loads comprise one of the largest single demands placed upon the Utah Power & Light (U.P.& L.) system. Because of their seasonal nature, they contribute extensively to the system load, representing nearly 30% of the peak demand, but only 5% of the kilowatt-hour sales. In Idaho alone last year, irrigation consumed 47% of U.P.& L. 's capital investment while returning only 28% to the Company's revenue.

This study examines the potential s for implementing energy management programs in pump testing, irrigation water management, and irrigation load management within U.P.& L. 's service area which might be used to help alleviate these peak demand problems.

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