Xcel Energy Sets Hydro Generation Record In September

Above average precipitation pushes production level past previous high mark set in 2002

Eau Claire, WI - Wind isn’t the only Xcel Energy renewable energy resource setting records. Hydro is also hitting high marks and had a record-breaking month for production from its Upper Midwest facilities in September.

More electricity was generated by Xcel Energy’s hydro fleet – 19 plants in Wisconsin and the St. Anthony Falls facility in Minnesota – last month than in any other September. The dams provided 130,537 megawatt-hours of clean, renewable energy, breaking the previous record set in September 2002 by 11,598 megawatt-hours.

“It’s been a very productive year for hydro,” said Scott Crotty, manager of Xcel Energy’s hydro operations. “Seven of our last nine months have been significantly above the 10-year average for hydro generation.”

Substantial rain and runoff are credited with much of the increase in hydro production. According to the National Weather Service, Eau Claire has recorded 12.3 inches of rainfall above normal for the year through Sept. 30.

From approximately 2004 to mid-2010 the northern half of Wisconsin was experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. “At that time the flowage elevations were quickly declining and river flows were greatly reduced from normal,” Crotty said. “Now our reservoirs are full, rivers and creeks are running strong and the ground is saturated, which is good news for hydro generation.

“The increase in generation also is a testament to our employees’ ability to make sure the facilities on our river systems are running safely and reliably throughout the year,” Crotty said, noting that preventive maintenance is key to reducing equipment issues.

While many of Xcel Energy’s hydro dams date back to the 1920s and nine were built more than 100 years ago, the company has continued to upgrade and modernize plant components. For example, Dells Hydro in Eau Claire was upgraded in 2009-2010 to reduce the number of turbines from seven to five, while increasing the generating capacity by 35 percent to 11.7 megawatts. Xcel Energy also recently installed new equipment at the St. Anthony Falls plant in Minneapolis and the Big Falls, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, St. Croix Falls and Wissota plants in Wisconsin.

In a typical year, hydroelectric power – including both owned and purchased power – makes up about 8 percent of the power Xcel Energy provides its nearly 1.7 million electricity customers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. More than half of the electricity the company supplies customers in the Upper Midwest comes from carbon-neutral sources, including hydro, nuclear, wind and biomass.