115 



conditions and fish and wildlife protection. Each occurrence is described below, 

 followed by a table summarizing the annual purchase power costs necessitated by non- 

 power project operations. 



Last winter. Western's Phoenix Area Office experienced resoicted generation releases 

 due to flooding in the lower Colorado River where compensating generation was 

 facilitated by interproject transfers. These interproject transfer costs were allocated 

 strictly to power. 



Western's Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program has made purchases of energy in the past 

 due to flow regimes instituted to benefit other project functions. The only actions 

 documented were the purchases of energy made in FY 1993 for flood control, costing 

 power customers approximately $10 million. 



The Corps of Engineers has also instituted a flow regime on the Missouri River to 

 improve the nesting survival rate for the Least Tern and Piping Plover, birds protected 

 under the Endangered Species Act. This has affected flows in the spring and summer 

 seasons, but to date Western has mitigated these impacts operationally. Because the 

 Missouri River Basin has had an extended drought, it is difficult to attribute the cause 

 of the shortfalls for which Western purchased power. 



As mentioned previously, the purchase power requirement of the Colorado River 

 Storage Project has increased due to special releases and test flows necessary for the 

 Glen Canyon Dam EIS and its supporting studies. These costs are considered non- 

 reimbursable and have totaled $10.4 million over FY 1984-94. In addition, $5.2 

 million of reimbursable purchase power expenses have been incurred over this period 

 for environmental purposes. 



The increased purchase power costs incurred at the Shasta Dam due to bypasses 

 necessary for temperature control in the Sacramento River in order to enhance the 

 endangered salmon runs are also non-reimbursable. 



Bypasses for temperature control of the Trinity River have increased the purchase 

 power costs associated with the Trinity River Division. Unlike the releases at Shasta, 

 these costs are considered reimbursable. Increasing flows and other administrative 

 actions required by the Trinity River Basin Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1984 

 also compel Western to purchase power. Increased flows reduce power generation at 

 the Spring Creek, Carr, and Keswick power plants. 



