Newsroom News features News releases Fact sheets Western's Merchant Functions Western at a Glance Rate History and Adjustments Composite Rates Facts about Western Trees and Power Lines Right-of-Way Safety Western products Energy Services Program Native American Power Customers Publications | Products |
Hydropower is America’s leading renewable energy resource. Of all the renewable power sources, it is the most reliable, efficient and economical. Western markets and delivers about 10,000 megawatts of reliable, cost-based hydropower from powerplants at 56 Federal hydropower plants and one coal-fired plant to rural electric cooperatives, municipalities, public utility districts, Federal and state agencies, Native American tribes and irrigation districts. The main products Western offers to our customers are: Through our Power marketing services, Western sells capacity—the demand of electricity, measured in kilowatts—and energy—the amount of electricity delivered over time, which is measured in kilowatthours. Products include:
Transmission services allow other utilities to use Western’s transmission system to transmit non-Federal power. Services include:
Ancillary services are services that support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable system operation. Services include:
Other Western services include assistance with long-range resource planning, portfolio diversification and system maintenance. Energy services —This technical assistance service helps long-term, firm power customers improve energy efficiency, use renewable energy and adopt new technologies to improve their competitive positions. Western provides training and assistance to customers developing Integrated Resource Plans as required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Other program services include publications, workshops, conferences, one-to-one assistance, equipment loans, technology and resource assessment studies, marketing studies, and other mechanisms to transfer information on energy efficiency and renewable energy options and programs to customers. Renewable resources—Western's Renewable Resource Program identifies customers who want renewable resources in their generation mix and provides guidance through technical and marketing assistance to allow customers to fully evaluate renewable resource options. Through the bi-weekly Green Power and Market Research Newsletter, customers can learn about the availability of grants, renewable energy programs, legislation, marketing and other issues related to renewable resources. Operation and maintenance services—Since reliability is essential to superior customer service, more than half of Western’s workforce is dedicated to keeping the system in good operating condition. Employees perform such duties as replacing wood poles, trimming trees, changing out insulators and repairing damage to equipment after severe weather.
|