Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program
| Date: | 2001-2004 |
| Location: | California |
| Sponsor: | California Energy Commission |
| Reports available: | See below |
Background
The Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program (APLRP)
was developed by the California Energy Commission
(CEC) in early June 2001, under the authority of
Section 5(b) of California Senate Bill 5x.
This legislation arose from the blackouts and
brownouts that hit the state of California during
the 2000-2001 winter, caused by a severe imbalance
in electricity supply. The primary goal of SB
5x was to reduce peak period electric demand
throughout California.
ITRC was contracted by CEC to administer the
agricultural water agency portion of the APLRP.
ITRC was entrusted with all technical aspects of the
program, including reviewing and approving all water
agency APLRP applications, technical support, and
verification of project completion and peak load
reduction. Because everything went through
ITRC, massive amounts of red tape were eliminated
and the program was able to run smoothly, quickly,
and efficiently.
The Agricultural Peak Load
Reduction Program had three main categories:
| Category | Description | Examples of Projects |
| 1 | High
Efficiency Electrical Equipment/ Other Overall Electricity Conservation Efforts |
|
| 2 | Pump Efficiency Testing and Retrofit/Repair |
|
| 3 | Advanced Metering and Telemetry |
|
Results
The ITRC-administered APLRP was
extremely successful. The program incorporated
over 50 Megawatts of peak load reduction into
Categories 1 and 3 of the program, and an additional
estimated 16 million kilowatt-hours of energy will
be saved per year through Category 2, for a $6.5
million total investment from the State of
California.
Publications:
- ITRC Report No. R 05-003: California Energy Commission Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program Final Report
- ITRC Paper No. P 02-002: Electric Load Shifting in Irrigation Districts - California's Program
Case Studies:
- Berrenda-Mesa Water Storage District
- North Kern Water Storage District
- Orange Cove Irrigation District
- Kaweah River Power Authority and Tulare Irrigation District
Additional Information
Also available online are the following resources:
- Full program description (revised February 2003)
- List of pump testers who have passed the Pump Efficiency Testing Short Course completion exam
- Pump Efficiency Test Field Report
- Original APLRP newsletter (August 2001), with examples of water agency projects and programs
Questions? Please Contact:
Daniel J. Howes, ITRC - APLRP Administrator
djhowes@calpoly.edu