HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/28/2011 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION UPDATEDATE: June 28, 2011
STAFF: Brian Janonis
Brian Moeck, PRPA
Pre-taped staff presentation: none
WORK SESSION ITEM
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Electric Transmission Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Brian Moeck, General Manager of Platte River Power Authority, will provide an update on the
reconstruction of the Dixon Creek to Horseshoe 230 kV transmission line, along with a general
discussion on undergrounding transmission facilities. Additionally, Mr. Moeck will provide
information on the proposed construction of walls around the Dixon Creek Substation at Overland
Trail and Drake and the Timberline Substation, just south of Prospect on Timberline
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
This work session is for information purposes upon request of City Council. No specific direction
from Council is being sought at this time.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Platte River is currently in the process of reconstructing the Dixon Creek to Horseshoe line. Dixon
Creek Substation is located at the west end of Drake Road and Horseshoe Substation is just north
of 57th Avenue on Shields/North Taft Avenue in Loveland. The project is being completed in three
segments. The first segment built for the project was the new 2.5 mile-long underground section
that runs from Trilby and Shields in Fort Collins to the Horseshoe Substation in Loveland. That
segment of the project was completed in late summer 2010.
The second segment of the project is the rebuilding of an existing 115kV wood pole overhead
transmission line owned by Tri-State that connects a small switching station at the south end of
Horsetooth Reservoir to the Trilby Substation at Shields and Trilby. Tri-State Generation and
Transmission Association owns the 115kV transmission line which was installed in the early 1970s.
Platte River and Tri-State agreed on a contract which allows Platte River to rebuild the four-mile
overhead transmission line and convert it to a double circuit 230kV design. Platte River will own
the 230kV circuit for the connection to the underground transmission segment to Loveland and pay
for the rebuilding. Tri-State will own the 115kV circuit connecting the Horsetooth Tap Switching
Station to the Trilby Substation. No new right-of-way was needed for this segment of the project,
which was completed three months ago.
June 28, 2011 Page 2
The final transmission segment to be installed for the project is the rebuild of the existing Western
Area Power Transmission 115kV transmission line from Dixon Creek Substation to the south end
of Horsetooth Reservoir. Platte River plans to rebuild this almost four mile long transmission
segment within the existing right-of-way using overhead poles that are identical to the poles
installed several years ago along Overland Trail when Platte River rebuilt that portion of Western’s
transmission line. The rebuilt transmission line will support two transmission circuits: one will be
the replacement for an existing Western transmission line using a slightly larger conductor size; the
second circuit will be the Platte River 230kV circuit.
As noted in the attached Platte River ten-year transmission study (Attachment 1), the next
transmission line project Platte River has planned in the Fort Collins area will be construction of a
new line to connect a new substation in the Northeast portion of the City. This is not anticipated to
occur until after 2015 when the City advises Platte River that transmission support is needed for a
new NE Fort Collins distribution substation.
Undergrounding Transmission Lines
Questions have been raised about the feasibility of undergrounding transmission lines in Fort
Collins. Utilities staff, along with PRPA, have developed a very rough non-engineered estimate of
the cost of undergrounding the transmission lines within the city. A map detailing the area
transmission lines along with ownership information is attached (Attachment 2). The roughly
estimated cost to underground the lines within the city is approximately $350 million. PRPA
estimates that it would take approximately 10 years to underground all of the lines within the city.
NOTE: Western Area Power Authority and Tri-State share many of the transmission poles in the
City. They would have to be consulted and their approval gained to underground their lines.
Staff has calculated the approximate rate impact if the project were financed over a 30-year period
at 5%. The table below reflects the approximate rate increases required. As noted, costs are a very
rough estimate. Engineered plans will be required to determine actual pricing.
Rate Class Rate Increase
R Residential 18.3%
RD Residential Demand 20.2%
GS General Service 21.7%
GS50 Small Commercial 24.5%
GS750
Large Commercial
Industrial 30.2%
CONTRACT Contract Customer 36.1%
FLOOD LIGHTS Flood Lights 7.1%
TRAFFIC Traffic signals 27.7%
Since no customer benefits more than any other from undergrounding the transmission line then the
cost could also be allocated as a fixed cost. The increase per customer would be $29 per month per
account.
June 28, 2011 Page 3
ATTACHMENTS
1. PRPA Ten-Year Transmission Plan 2011-2020 Study Report
2. Foothills Area Map
3. 2011-2020 Transmission Plan
Platte River Power Authority
Ten-Year Transmission Plan
(2011-2020)
Prepared by
PRPA System Planning
January 27, 2011
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. Scope
III. Assumptions
IV. Criteria
V. Procedure
VI. Results
o Operating Horizon
o Near-Term Planning Horizon
o Longer-Term Planning Horizon
o Transient Stability Analysis
o Prior Outage Initial Conditions
o PRPA Sub-Area Reactive Power Assessment
o Short-Circuit Analysis
VII. Conclusions
VIII. Additional Reports
Exhibit 1 2011-2020 Transmission System Map and 2011-2020 Plan of Service Diagrams
Exhibit 2 Foothills Study Area
Exhibit 3 PRPA 10-year Load Forecast by Substation
Exhibit 4 PRPA Load and Resource Allocations
Exhibit 5 Study Procedure
Exhibit 6 Forced Outage Contingencies
Exhibit 7 Transient Stability Fault Descriptions
Exhibit 8 PRPA Sub-Area Reactive Power Assessment
Exhibit 9 Matrix Power Flow Study Results
Exhibit 10 Transient Stability Study Tabular Results
Exhibit 11 Transient Stability Study Plots
Page 2 of 881
I. Executive Summary
The Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Ten-Year Transmission Plan (2011-2020) is developed
to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to its municipal owners in Estes Park, Fort Collins,
Longmont, and Loveland, Colorado and to other PRPA transmission customers. The planning
studies and reliability assessments for the near-term and longer-term planning horizons
demonstrate that the PRPA transmission system meets the performance requirements of the
Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and of the North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC) Standards TPL-001 through -004. PRPA transmission projects
planned for the next ten years are listed in the following Table 1 in order of in-service date, and
are illustrated on the 2011-2020 Transmission System Map and 2011-2020 Plan of Service
Diagrams in Exhibit 1.
Table 1: PRPA Planned Transmission Projects
In-Service Project Name Description Purpose
March
2011
Richard Lake 115kV
Substation
Interconnection
Addition of Richard Lake-Waverly 115kV
Line.
New delivery point to serve
growing load for TSGT.
April
2011
Loveland East 115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 115/12.47kV transformer T3 and
complete ring bus configuration.
New delivery point to serve
growing load.
May
2011
College Lake 230kV
Substation
Sectionalize Dixon-Laporte Tap 230kV Line
section with new substation and 0.5 mile of
double-circuit 230 kV line.
New delivery point to serve
growing load for PSCo.
July
2011
Fordham-Fort St.
Vrain 230kV Line
Approximately 21.4 miles of
underground/overhead sections. Expansion
of Fordham to 230/115kV Substation with
two 230/115kV transformers. Rebuild Del
Camino Tap-Meadow-LongmontNW-
Fordham 115kV Lines to double-circuit
230kV capability. Create LongmontNW-
Rogers-Terry 115kV 3-Terminal Line.
Upgrade Longs Peak-Fort St.Vrain 230kV
Line.
Necessary to meet WECC
and NERC performance
requirements. Provide a
second 230kV source to the
Longmont area.
December
2011
Table 1 (Continued)
In-Service Project Name Description Purpose
May
2012
Fordham 115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 115/12.47kV transformer T3. New delivery point to serve
growing load.
November
2013
Crossroads 115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 115/12.47kV transformer T2 and a Ring
Breaker.
New delivery point to serve
growing load.
November
2013
Rebuild
LongmontNW-
Harvard 115kV Line
Connect Harvard 115/12.47 kV transformers
T1 & T2 to different bays at LongmontNW
Substation. Create two 115kV underground
lines to cross Harvard Street.
Improve reliability to each
transformer. Meet PRPA
design criteria.
May
2013
Timberline 230/115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 230/115kV transformer T2. Improve system reliability in
the Fort Collins area.
May
2015
Boyd 230/115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 230/115kV transformer T2. Improve system reliability in
the Loveland area.
August
2015
Fort Collins Northeast
115/13.8kV Substation
Rebuild TSGT’s Timnath-Boxelder 115 kV
Line double-circuit. Create Richard Lake-
Boxelder/FortNE 115 kV Line. (Alternative
site near Cobb Lake 115 kV Substation.)
New delivery point to serve
growing load.
May
2016
Timberline 230/115kV
T1 Replacement
Replace 230/115kV transformer T1 with new
transformer.
Improve system reliability in
the Fort Collins area.
Existing transformer
installed 1976.
IV. Criteria
PRPA adheres to NERC Transmission Planning Standards and WECC Reliability Criteria, as
well as internal company criteria for planning studies. PRPA’s power flow simulation criteria:
Category A – System Normal
“N-0” System Performance Under Normal (No Contingency) Conditions (Category A)
NERC Standard TPL-001-0
Voltage: 0.95 to 1.05 per unit
Line Loading: 100 percent of continuous rating
Transformer Loading: 100% of highest 65 °C rating
Category B – Loss of generator, line, or transformer (Forced Outage)
“N-1” System Performance Following Loss of a Single Element (Category B)
NERC Standard TPL-002-0
Voltage: 0.92 to 1.07 per unit (PRPA)
0.90 to 1.10 per unit (all others)
Line Loading: 100 percent of continuous rating or emergency rating if
applicable
Transformer Loading: 100% of highest 65 °C rating
Category C – Loss of Bus or a Breaker Failure (Forced Outage)
“N-2 or More” System Performance Following Loss of Two or More Elements (Category C)
NERC Standard TPL-003-0
Voltage and Thermal: Allowable emergency limits will be considered as
determined by the affected parties and the available
emergency mitigation plan. Curtailment of firm transfers,
generation redispatch, and load shedding will be
considered if necessary.
Category D – Extreme Events (Forced Outages)
“N-2 or More” System Performance Following Extreme Events (Category D)
NERC Standard TPL-004-0
Voltage and Thermal: Evaluate for risks and consequences. If applicable, use
allowable emergency limits as determined by available
emergency mitigation plan. Curtailment of firm transfers,
generation redispatch, and load shedding will be
considered if necessary.
Transient stability criteria require that all generating machines remain in synchronism and all
power swings should be well damped. Also, transient voltage performance should meet the
following criteria:
• Following fault clearing for Category B contingencies, voltage may not dip more
than 25% of the pre-fault voltage at load buses, more than 30% at non-load
buses, or more than 20% for more than 20 cycles at load buses.
• Following fault clearing for Category C contingencies, voltage may not dip more
than 30% of the pre-fault voltage at any bus or more than 20% for more than 40
cycles at load buses.
Page 5 of 881
In addition, transient frequency performance should meet the following criteria:
• Following fault clearing for Category B contingencies, frequency should not dip
below 59.6 Hz for 6 cycles or more at a load bus.
• Following fault clearing for Category C contingencies, frequency should not dip
below 59.0 Hz for 6 cycles or more at a load bus.
Note that load buses include generating unit auxiliary loads.
NERC Standards require that the system remain stable and no Cascading occurs for Category
A, B, and C disturbances. Cascading is defined in the NERC Glossary as “The uncontrolled
successive loss of system elements triggered by an incident at any location. Cascading……
cannot be restrained from sequentially spreading beyond an area predetermined by studies.” A
potential triggering event for Cascading will be investigated upon one of the following results:
• A generator pulls out of synchronism in transient stability simulations. Loss of
synchronism occurs when a rotor angle swing is greater than 180 degrees. Rotor angle
swings greater than 180 degrees may also be the result of a generator becoming
disconnected from the BES; or
• A transmission element experiences thermal overload and its transmission relay
loadability is exceeded. (PRPA sets its transmission relays so they do not operate below
150% of the continuous rating of a circuit.)
V. Procedure
The studies were performed by PRPA System Planning using the Siemens-PTI PSS/E computer
simulation software versions 30.3.2 and 32.0.1. The transmission system models were
developed from models prepared by WECC. Previous planning studies by PRPA, the Foothills
Planning Group, and the Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) have concluded the
heavy summer loading scenarios cover the most critical system conditions over the range of
forecasted system demand levels. Both heavy and light load scenarios were studied for each the
near-term and longer-term planning horizons to conduct a thorough assessment for all seasons.
Transmission topology and system demand were modified according to which season and year
are studied. Light load scenarios apply to Spring and Fall system conditions and heavy load
scenarios apply to Summer and Winter system conditions.
WECC Approved base cases were selected accordingly and load, generation, and transmission
topologies were updated as necessary with the most recent modeling representations of the
planned PRPA and Foothills systems. The study cases include both existing and planned
facilities, the expected system conditions, and the effects of any Bulk Electric System (BES)
equipment planned to be out-of-service during the critical demand levels.1
1 PRPA makes every effort to avoid removing a BES facility or equipment including protection systems from service for planned
maintenance or construction during the summer peak demand levels or during other high-risk system conditions when PRPA may
implement “No Touch” procedures. PRPA performs system studies when a BES facility is scheduled to be removed from service.
All normal
operating procedures and the effects of all control devices and protection systems are modeled.
Page 6 of 881
Reactive power resources are included in the model to ensure adequate reactive resources are
available to meet system performance.
The PRPA 10-year Load Forecast by Substation is listed in Exhibit 3. PRPA uses its “high” load
forecast for reliability margin to reflect uncertainties in projected BES conditions. The PRPA
Load and Resource Allocations for each base case studied are provided in Exhibit 4. These
exhibits represent the projected PRPA customer demands, firm transfers, and generation
dispatch modeled in the bases cases. All projected firm transfers are modeled according to the
data for loads, resources, obligations, and interchanges described in the “Associated Material”
document provided with each approved WECC base case. The generation dispatch in each base
case was modified to fully stress the PRPA system by setting Rawhide to its maximum output.
See Exhibit 5 for the study procedure where the modified generation dispatch values are
documented.
All Category A and B contingencies and certain Category C and D contingencies were
simulated using the Matrix routine written for contingency analysis on the PSS/E computer
simulation software.
The Category C and D multiple contingencies studied are those that would produce more
severe system results or impacts based on the Transmission Planners knowledge of the system
and engineering judgment. The rationale for selection considers facilities at significant
substations, large generation stations, and lines involved with large bulk transfer paths,
common rights-of-way, common structures, and shared circuit breakers.
Computer simulation software solution methods are as follows:
Pre-contingency Post-Contingency
Area Interchange Control Off Off
Phase-Shifter Lock Lock
TFMR LTC Adjust Adjust
Switched Shunt Reactor/Capacitor Adjust Lock
DC Taps Adjust Adjust
All busses and branches in Zones 706 and 754 of the WECC base cases are monitored for criteria
violations. A list of simulated forced outage contingencies is provided in Exhibit 6. The PRPA
transmission system is fully contained within Zones 706 and 754 and completely studied by the
list of contingencies.
Study results were reviewed and assessed for compliance with the WECC and NERC standards.
Planned upgrades, additions, or corrective actions needed to meet the performance
requirements are identified and included in the transmission plan for Category A, B, and C
contingency conditions which cause a criteria violation. System performance problems
associated with Category D extreme events are evaluated for possible actions to reduce the
likelihood or mitigate the consequences of the extreme event.
Page 7 of 881
VI. Results
Operating Horizon (2010)
Powerflow and transient stability studies were performed for the operating horizon. The
results and mitigating actions are documented in the Foothills Area 2010 Summer Assessment
report dated July 12, 2010, and in several planned outage study reports conducted throughout
2010 for the Foothills Area.
The summer season has system performance problems that may occur for contingencies during
higher load levels and lower CBT generation levels. The winter season has fewer problems than
the summer season for contingencies during higher load levels and lower CBT levels. The
difference between these summer and winter study results is typical for the PRPA transmission
system, the Foothills System, and the CCPG footprint, and also demonstrates the historical
pattern of why the summer season representation is the most critical system condition studied
over a range of forecasted system demand levels in these areas.
With the Rawhide Plant generating at its maximum capacity, mitigating actions are necessary to
reduce Rawhide generation for two NERC Category C contingencies and for one NERC
Category D extreme event involving two or more of the four 230kV transmission lines
connected to the generation facility. The findings are documented in the Rawhide Operating
Limitations Study Report dated July 12, 2010. These symptoms continue into the near and
longer term planning horizons. In past Ten-Year Transmission Plan study reports these
conditions were mitigated by the Laporte 230 kV Substation Expansion Project. However, for
financial reasons in 2010 this project was removed from PRPA’s ten-year capital budget in favor
of allowable mitigating actions.
Transient stability studies were performed for the operating horizon in a 2010 Heavy Summer
scenario and the results documented in the TOT 7 Transfer Path Transient Stability Study dated
November 8, 2010 (TOT 7 Study).
The TOT 7 Study showed the TOT 7 transfer path and the surrounding Foothills transmission
system remains stable with satisfactory damping characteristics. Also the transient voltage dip
and frequency results from the study show the system responds adequately to the simulated
disturbances.
Near-Term Planning Horizon (2011-2015)
PRPA has transmission plans to achieve the required system performance throughout the
planning horizon. In 2004 the 2004-2014 Ten-Year Transmission Plan included two significant
230 kV projects necessary to meet system performance requirements in the near-term planning
horizon. These two projects are the Fordham-Fort St.Vrain 230 kV Line in the Longmont area
originally expected to be in service by Spring 2007, and the Dixon-Horseshoe 230 kV Line in the
Fort Collins/Loveland area originally expected to be in service by Spring 2008. PRPA has been
(and still is) working diligently to complete these projects as soon as possible but has
experienced a number of delays. Reasons for the delay have been the County land use “1041
Regulation” processes, right-of-way acquisitions, negotiations for rebuilds of transmission
facilities owned by others, changes in line routing, modifications to transmission line design, a
Page 8 of 881
delay in the issuance of long-term bonds due to uncertain financial markets, and occasional
construction delays.
At this time the expected completion dates for the Fordham-Fort St.Vrain 230 kV Line and the
Dixon-Horseshoe 230 kV Line are July 2011 and May 2012 respectively. The schedule for
implementation of these and all other PRPA transmission projects is given in Table 1 at the
beginning of this report. The lead times for the Fordham-Fort St.Vrain 230 kV Line and the
Dixon-Horseshoe 230 kV Line projects are designed for completion to occur as soon as possible
by coordinating multiple contractors for overhead and underground line construction activities
to work around each other simultaneously on both projects, while at the same time trying to
avoid activities that require line outages during the summer months. Detailed transmission
construction schedules for these and other near-term projects and a Ten-Year Capital
Transmission Budget for all PRPA transmission projects were developed by PRPA System
Engineering.
Each year since 2004 PRPA has addressed the criteria violations with mitigation actions in its
annual Operating Assessments provided to the WECC Reliability Coordinator, the
Transmission Operators, and the Balancing Authorities in the area so all affected parties are
prepared to respond to system problems that might occur. In the meantime until these
transmission projects can be completed, PRPA will continue to perform annual operating
assessments and provide the results and mitigating actions to affected parties. The majority of
performance problems appearing on the PRPA system in the 2010 Summer and 2010-2011
Winter construction operating assessments are due to the delay of these two significant 230 kV
line projects. As project in-service dates change PRPA makes the associated changes to system
topologies in the WECC base case models.
Power flow and transient stability studies were performed for the near-term planning horizon
and the results are documented in this report for the 2015 Heavy Summer and the 2014 Light
Autumn scenarios. The same seasons were studied in the CCPG NERC/WECC Compliance
Report and Reactive Margin Analysis dated December 28, 2010 (CCPG Study). All but one of
the criteria violations are associated with the Rawhide Plant generating at its maximum
capacity and can be mitigated by a reduction of generation levels. There were no transient
stability criteria violations for the PRPA transmission system. (See the Transient Stability
Analysis section for details.)
Voltage stability studies were performed for the near-term planning horizon and the results
documented in the CCPG Study for the 2015 Heavy Summer and 2014 Light Autumn scenarios.
There were no criteria violations for the PRPA transmission system.
Power flow results of the near-term planning horizon studies for the PRPA transmission system
are summarized in the following Table 2. The primary reasons for the more favorable near-
term results, as compared to the 2010 Summer operating horizon results, are the additions of
the Fordham-Fort St.Vrain 230 kV Line and the Dixon-Horseshoe 230 kV Line.
Page 9 of 881
Table 2: Near-Term Planning Horizon (2011-2015)
Case Criteria Violations Mitigation Plan
2014 Light
Autumn2
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide-Ault & Rawhide-
Timberline 230kV lines overloads Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline
3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of 472MVA rating.
Reduce Rawhide Generation
to 640MW (net) in 15 minutes
from time of forced outage to
avoid conductor sag limit.
NERC Category D extreme event for loss of Ault-Timberline &
Rawhide-Timberline & Ault-Rawhide 230kV lines overloads
Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline 3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of
472MVA rating.
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide – Timberline &
Dixon – Rawhide – Timberline 3-terminal 230kV lines
(Timberline BKRFAIL 1186) overloads Ault – Rawhide 230kV
line by 123% of 378 MVA rating.
Evaluate the Ault-Rawhide
terminal equipment for rating
increase to 472 MVA
conductor sag limit. In the
meantime, reduce Rawhide
Generation to 560MW (net) in
6 minutes from time of forced
outage to avoid conductor
sag limit.
2015 Heavy
Summer3
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide-Ault & Rawhide-
Timberline 230kV lines overloads Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline
3-terminal 230kV line by 102% of 472MVA rating.
Reduce Rawhide Generation
to 640MW (net) in 15 minutes
from time of forced outage to
avoid conductor sag limit.
NERC Category D extreme event for loss of Ault-Timberline &
Rawhide-Timberline & Ault-Rawhide 230kV lines overloads
Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline 3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of
472MVA rating.
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide – Timberline &
Dixon – Rawhide – Timberline 3-terminal 230kV lines
(Timberline BKRFAIL 1186) overloads Ault – Rawhide 230kV
line by 116% of its 378 MVA rating and the Laporte
230/115kV Transformer by 115% of 184MVA rating.
Evaluate the Ault-Rawhide
terminal equipment for rating
increase to 472 MVA
conductor sag limit, allowing
more time for generation
reduction to unload the
transformer. In the
meantime, reduce Rawhide
Generation to 575MW (net) in
7 minutes from time of forced
outage to avoid conductor
sag limit.
NERC Category C forced outage of Longs Peak–County Line
& Slater-Longs Peak-Meadow 3-terminal 115kV line causes
Longer-Term Planning Horizon (2016-2020)
Power flow and transient stability studies were performed for the longer-term planning horizon
and the results documented in this report for the 2018 Light Autumn and the 2020 Heavy
Summer scenarios, and in the CCPG Study for the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario. All criteria
violations are associated with the Rawhide Plant generating at its maximum capacity and can
be mitigated by a reduction of generation levels. There were no transient stability criteria
violations for the PRPA transmission system. (See the Transient Stability Analysis section for
details.)
In the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario it was determined there was one criteria violation
associated with TSGT facilities. For a NERC Category B forced outage of Slater-Longs Peak-
Meadow 3-terminal 115kV line there is an overload on the Dacono-Erie 115kV line of 111% of
109MVA rating. After conferring with TSGT, this criteria violation can be mitigated by
adjusting or replacing metering equipment at the Erie Substation thus increasing the facility
rating of the Dacono-Erie 115kV line to 166MVA.
The Weld-Promontory 230 kV Project was removed from the study cases due to lack of support
for the project. A similar form of this project remains in the TSGT planning stages and PRPA
will monitor the progress of this 230 kV project through the Foothills Planning Group where
coordinated transmission planning occurs with three other interconnected transmission owners.
Voltage stability studies were performed for the longer-term planning horizon and the results
documented in the CCPG Study for the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario. There were no criteria
violations for the PRPA transmission system.
Results of the longer-term planning horizon studies for the PRPA transmission system are
summarized in the following Table 3 and indicate favorable system improvements from
planned transmission projects added to the system.
Page 11 of 881
Table 3: Longer-Term Planning Horizon (2016-2020)
Case Criteria Violations Mitigation Plan
2018 Light
Autumn4
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide-Ault & Rawhide-
Timberline 230kV lines overloads Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline
3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of 472MVA rating.
Reduce Rawhide Generation
to 640MW (net) in 15 minutes
from time of forced outage to
avoid conductor sag limit.
NERC Category D extreme event for loss of Ault-Timberline &
Rawhide-Timberline & Ault-Rawhide 230kV lines overloads
Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline 3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of
472MVA rating.
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide – Timberline &
Dixon – Rawhide – Timberline 3-terminal 230kV lines
(Timberline BKRFAIL 1186) overloads Ault – Rawhide 230kV
line by 123% of 378 MVA rating.
Evaluate the Ault-Rawhide
terminal equipment for rating
increase to 472 MVA
conductor sag limit. In the
meantime, reduce Rawhide
Generation to 560MW (net) in
6 minutes from time of forced
outage to avoid conductor
sag limit.
2020 Heavy
Summer5
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide-Ault & Rawhide-
Timberline 230kV lines overloads Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline
3-terminal 230kV line by 102% of 472MVA rating.
Reduce Rawhide Generation
to 640MW (net) in 15 minutes
from time of forced outage to
avoid conductor sag limit.
NERC Category D extreme event for loss of Ault-Timberline &
Rawhide-Timberline & Ault-Rawhide 230kV lines overloads
Dixon-Rawhide-Timberline 3-terminal 230kV line by 103% of
472MVA rating.
NERC Category C forced outage of Rawhide – Timberline &
Dixon – Rawhide – Timberline 3-terminal 230kV lines
(Timberline BKRFAIL 1186) overloads Ault – Rawhide 230kV
line by 116% of its 378 MVA rating and the Laporte
230/115kV Transformer by 119% of 184MVA rating.
Evaluate the Ault-Rawhide
terminal equipment for rating
increase to 472 MVA
conductor sag limit, allowing
more time for generation
reduction to unload the
transformer. In the
meantime, reduce Rawhide
Generation to 575MW (net) in
7 minutes from time of forced
outage to avoid conductor
sag limit.
4 Study case used was “ C:\ Study_Program_2010\ Projects\ Transplan\ 2018LA_PRPA\ 18LA_PRPA.sav” which was created from
the CCPG derived case which originated from the WECC 14LA1 approved case “ 14la1sa1p.sav” that was posted to
Transient Stability Analysis
The purpose of the Transient Stability analysis is to evaluate the stability performance of the
PRPA transmission system and of generators at the Rawhide Power Plant and surrounding
area. This analysis was performed for the near-term and longer-term planning horizons to
evaluate how the system responds to SLG and 3 faults with various clearing times and forced
outages. The rationale for the selection of contingencies and extreme events to be evaluated
considers facilities at significant substations and power plants, lines involved with large bulk
transfer paths, common rights-of-way, common structures, and shared circuit breakers to
satisfy all contingency conditions and types of faults defined in NERC Table 1 of the TPL
standards. A list and description of the disturbances run in the transient stability simulations
are provided in Exhibit 7.
There were no transient stability criteria violations for the PRPA transmission system which
remains stable with satisfactory damping characteristics for all NERC Category A, B, and C
events.
The following two NERC Category D extreme events resulted in Rawhide generator instability
for all cases studied:
1. Category D2 – a 3 fault at the Ault end of the Ault-Rawhide 230 kV line with
failure of a pilot protection system and operation of a backup Zone 2 relay with a
delayed clearing6
a) All 230kV transmission lines exiting the Rawhide plant have redundant pilot
relaying schemes and therefore will reduce the likelihood of this extreme
event from occurring.
time of 30 cycles. The Rawhide units pulled out of synchronism
for this extreme event. In order to evaluate these results as a potential triggering
event for cascading, a follow-up analysis was performed along with tripping all
Rawhide generators which pulled out of synchronism. The follow-up analysis
demonstrated a stable system with satisfactory damping characteristics and no
cascading. (The critical clearing time for Rawhide generation to remain stable for
this extreme event is 20 cycles for the 2020 Heavy Summer case.) Simulating the
same disturbance but with a 30-cycle SLG fault, which changes this event to a
Category C8, results in a stable system with satisfactory damping characteristics.
2. Category D4 – a 3 fault on the Rawhide 230 kV bus with a stuck breaker (BKR 2122)
and a Breaker Failure (BF) delayed clearing time of 18 cycles. BKR 2122 BF relaying
disconnects all Rawhide peaking Units A, B, C, D, and F from the 230 kV bus.
Rawhide Unit 1 pulled out of synchronism for this extreme event. In order to
evaluate these results as a potential triggering event for cascading, a follow-up
analysis was performed along with tripping Rawhide Unit 1 which pulled out of
synchronism. The follow-up analysis demonstrated a stable system with satisfactory
damping characteristics and no cascading. (The critical clearing time for Rawhide
Unit 1 to remain stable for this extreme event is 15 cycles for the 2020 Heavy
Summer case.) Simulating the same disturbance but with an 18-cycle SLG fault,
6 Delayed Clearing is defined in the NERC Glossary of Terms as “ Fault clearing consistent with correct operation of a breaker failure
protection system and its associated breakers, or of a backup protection system with an intentional time delay.”
Page 13 of 881
which changes this event to a Category C9, results in a stable system with
satisfactory damping characteristics.
a) Possible action to reduce the likelihood of the event – Evaluate reducing the
clearing times for both BF and Circuit Switcher Failure relaying at Rawhide.
Prior Outage Initial Conditions
The purpose of the Prior Outage Initial Conditions (POIC) analysis is to evaluate the strength of
the transmission system to withstand forced outage contingencies during the prior outage of a
facility susceptible to a long-term repair period that might span across a summer peak in the
planning horizon. Powerflow studies were performed and the results documented herein for
the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario to assess the impacts of a damaged underground
transmission cable, a damaged autotransformer, or a damaged generator for which longer
repair periods could occur in the PRPA transmission system.
Four 230 kV underground transmission cable circuits, one 345/230 kV transformer, nine
230/115 kV transformers, and Rawhide Unit 1 were studied for prior outage scenarios. The
same Category A, B, C and D contingencies simulated for the near-term and longer-term
planning horizon assessments were also simulated for this POIC assessment. There were no “N-
1-0” Category A problems. The system performance for “N-1-1” Category B contingencies had a
small number of criteria violations which could be mitigated by monitoring transformer alarms
or by shedding some load if necessary. The worst “N-1-2 or More” Category C problem was the
prior outage of a Fordham-Fort St.Vrain 230 kV Line underground cable section followed by the
forced double-circuit tower outage of the Longs Peak-County Line 115 kV Line and the Longs
Peak-Meadow-Del Camino 3-Terminal 115 kV Line which reduced the Longmont/Del
Camino/Brighton area voltages to 0.50 per unit supported only by the Beaver Creek-Erie 230
kV Line and the Estes-Longmont Northwest 115kV Line.
PRPA Sub-Area Reactive Power Assessment
The purpose of this reactive power assessment is to verify that PRPA will continue to satisfy the
requirements of its Reactive Power Supply Guidelines in the planning horizon. The PRPA Sub-
Area is a boundary metering system within the PSCo Balancing Authority Area necessary for
the operations and measurement of load and losses on a real-time basis in the PRPA system. A
PRPA Sub-Area reactive power assessment was performed and the results documented herein
for the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario. The results demonstrate PRPA has the capability to meet
the peak Sub-Area reactive power demand in the ten-year planning horizon with a margin for
dynamic reserve using its own reactive power supply facilities installed inside the Sub-Area
metered boundaries. The greatest reactive power demand occurs in the summer season.
During off-peak times the Sub-Area may be importing vars from elsewhere but internal reactive
power facilities are available if necessary to adjust the interchange within safe voltage operating
limits.
The following new PRPA reactive power supply facilities are included in the Ten-Year
Transmission Plan:
• 70 Mvar from two 35-Mvar 115 kV shunt capacitors at the Horseshoe 230/115 kV
Substation in 2012
• 90 Mvar of charging from underground cable on three 230 kV line projects in
Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins in 2011
Page 14 of 881
In the 2020 Heavy Summer scenario the PRPA Sub-Area is exporting 87 Mvar with all shunt
capacitors in-service and Rawhide generating a net plant 84 Mvar. See Exhibit 8 for the PRPA
Sub-Area reactive power assessment results.
Short-Circuit Analysis
The purpose of a short-circuit analysis in the planning horizon is to determine whether planned
facilities will cause the short-circuit rating of existing BES equipment to be exceeded. Short-
circuit studies were performed by PRPA System Engineering for the 2018 Heavy Summer
system topology and the results documented in a PRPA 2018 System Forecast Fault Current
Study memo dated December 4, 2009. All fault currents are within BES equipment ratings. The
planned system topology in the 2018 Heavy Summer scenario studied in 2009 is similar to the
2020 Heavy Summer planned system topology in 2010 for the Foothills Area.
Other Exhibits
See Exhibit 9 for all steady-state thermal and voltage Matrix study results for each planning
horizon assessment and for the POIC assessment. For all transient stability results7
reference
Exhibit 10 for a tabular summary and Exhibit 11 for plots of generator angles and rotor speeds,
bus voltages and bus frequencies for all simulated disturbances.
VII. Conclusions
The PRPA Ten-Year Transmission Plan (2011-2020) ensures a transmission system designed for
the reliable delivery of electricity to its municipal owners in Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont,
and Loveland, Colorado and to other PRPA transmission customers.
The PRPA transmission system is planned such that it will meet the NERC and WECC
performance requirements and can be operated to supply projected customer demands and
firm transfers at all demand levels over the range of forecasted system demands under the
conditions defined for Categories A, B, C, and D of the NERC Standards TPL-001 through -004.
The PRPA and Foothills transmission systems are steady-state thermal or steady-state voltage
limited systems (not stability limited) in the operating horizon and throughout the ten-year
planning horizon.
7 Transient Stability results are provided in both tables and graphical plots. Stability results for machines which are disconnected
from the transmission system may appear similar to those of a machine that pulls out of synchronism and should be disregarded.
Page 15 of 881
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
http:/ / www.wecc.biz on 3-10-2010.
5 Study case used was derived by CCPG and its members and originated from the WECC 2020HS approved case “ 20hs1a1p.sav”
that was posted to http:/ / www.wecc.biz on 6-9-2010.
Page 12 of 881
Longs Peak bus voltage to 1.07pu.
De-energize capacitor bank at
Longs Peak Substation to
reduce bus voltage.
2 Study case used was derived by CCPG and its members and originated from the WECC 14LA1 approved case “ 14la1sa1p.sav”
that was posted to http:/ / www.wecc.biz on 3-10-2010.
3 Study case used was derived by CCPG and its members and originated from the WECC 15HS2 approved case “ 15hs2a1p.sav” that
was posted to http:/ / www.wecc.biz on 5-3-2010.
Page 10 of 881
II. Scope
The study area is the Foothills Area Transmission System (Foothills System) located in northern
Colorado as shown in Exhibit 2. The PRPA transmission system is situated in the Foothills
System. The near-term (years one through five) and longer-term (years six through ten)
planning horizons were studied and the results documented herein over a range of forecasted
system demands and subject to the various contingency conditions defined in the NERC
Standards TPL-001 through -004 for Categories A, B, C, and D.
III. Assumptions
1. Loads are represented at the high-voltage busses.
2. PRPA detailed representation with substation transformers and low-voltage bus loads are
not used in this study. However, power factors have been adjusted for high-voltage bus
representation.
3. Voltage criteria violations on the transmission system are of more concern at load busses
than at non-load busses.
Page 4 of 881
Harmony 230kV
Substation Terminals
Upgrade
Modify CT tap and transformer relaying. Remove conditional line
ratings on the Boyd and
Timberline lines.
May
2012
Meadow 115kV Ring
Breaker
Add one breaker to complete the 115 kV ring
bus.
Improve reliability to
Meadow Substation. Meet
PRPA design criteria.
October
2011
Timberline 230/115kV
Substation Expansion
Add 115/13.8kV transformers T3 & T4. New delivery point to serve
growing load.
May
2012
Dixon-Horseshoe
230kV Line
Approximately 9.4 miles. Rebuild WAPA’s
Dixon-Horsetooth Tap 115kV Line to double-
circuit 230kV capability. Rebuild TSGT’s
Horsetooth Tap-Trilby 115kV line to double-
circuit 230kV capability. New Trilby-
Horseshoe 230 kV underground line.
Expansion of Horseshoe to 230/115kV
Substation with two 230/115kV transformers
and two 35-MVAR 115kV Capacitor Banks.
Necessary to meet WECC
and NERC performance
requirements. Provide a
second 230kV source to the
Loveland area.
Page 3 of 881