Utility users should be prepared to pay more for power after low water in lakes is forcing AP&T to run the diesel generator plant 24 hours a day.
Darren Belisle, AP&T power operations manager for Upper Lynn Canal, said between precipitation and snowmelt, the lakes are typically more full around this time of year. “We’re getting really low on water because spring is taking its sweet time showing up this year,” Belisle said. “All our hydros are only at one third of their maximum output. Normally they’re at maximum this time of year. Because of the pressure it takes to draw the water out of the lake, we have to be very careful in our operations.”
The company was attempting to switch a power draw from one hydro station to another last Friday when an outage occurred. Because the water is so low, more air gets into the system, Belisle said. What amounted to a large air embolism kept water from reaching the hydro station.
Belisle said foul weather kept maintenance staff from the site for most of the week but workers arrived Wednesday to prime the pipe that delivers water to the hydro station. The low water will keep the diesel generators operating 24 hours every day until lakes receive runoff, Belisle said.
During winter and early spring, the diesel generators usually supplement the hydro power. The local plant burns about 3000 gallons a day during that time, Belisle said. When it’s running 24 hours it burns about 5000 gallons per day. Belisle said electric bills will increase.
“Everybody do a rain dance,” Belisle said.
Sharon Sullivan, meteorologist intern for the National Weather Service in Juneau, said in April the average daily high has been colder than normal although the average temperature throughout the day has been warmer than normal. Skagway saw lower than average precipitation.
“What really made a difference was the below normal snowpack heading out of the season here,” Sullivan said.
Haines received lower than average snowfall in January and February.