Utilities’ Errors
The utilities’ analysis is riddled with errors and oversights. Their mistakes, some small, some in the tens of millions of dollars, have compromised their analysis.
Facts about their errors:
- Their 2008 Macro Corridor Study used inaccurate mileage estimates to generate cost-estimates for the alternatives considered before this study. Cost was the key factor cited by the utilities in recommending the east-west routes currently being pursued. Read the full report.
- The bottom of page 17 and the top of page 18 in testimony from national energy expert James Dauphinais identifies the utilities’ mileage errors. He notes that they underestimated the La Veta Pass route by 20 miles and overestimated the “Monarch Route” (north over Poncha Pass) by 10 miles. Using the utilities’ 2007 cost estimate of $570,000 per mile of single-circuit 230 kV transmission line, the cost estimates in their 2008 study are off by $17 million. Read the full testimony.
- The 2007 Resource Plan for Public Service Company (the utility company’s portfolio of proposed resources) includes the addition of 200-250 megawatts (MW) of new energy in the Walsenburg area which is known as Energy Resource Zone (ERZ) 5). Further analysis by national energy expert James Dauphinais indicates that, if the utilities add the 925 MW of new energy in San Luis Valley this project is capable of adding, only 50-100 MW of new energy could be accepted in the Walsenburg area. Despite the fact that the utilities’ proposed project cannot accommodate 925 MW in the San Luis Valley unless they significantly reduce their approved energy plans for the Walsenburg area, the utilities continue to inaccurately tout their project’s ability to export 925 MW from the valley. Read Dauphinais’ full testimony.
- National energy expert James Dauphinais testifies that the utilities’ analysis of their own alternatives uses inaccurate assumptions that were less severe than the ones they used in a cursory dismissal of our alternatives. Read the full testimony.
- The utilities are either unaware of, or have ignored, a system-wide stability problem that limits energy export out of the San Luis Valley to 600 MW for all alternatives. Read the full testimony.