Between 2000 and 2004, a total of 145,417 MW of nonutilitygeneration is expected to be added to the U.S. power grid and 83%of that total will be gas-fired power generation, according to anew survey by the Energy Information Administration.

The EIA’s Inventory of Nonutility Electric Power Plants in theUnited States found that a total of 799 new gas-fired units,totaling 120,645 MW in nameplate capacity, are scheduled to beadded by the end of 2004. The Southeastern Electric ReliabilityCouncil (SERC) is expected to receive the largest portion of newnonutility generation with an additional 252 units totaling 36,636MW. SERC is followed by ERCOT with 109 new units totaling 21,775MW; ECAR with an expected 181 additional units, totaling 17,733 MW;and MAIN with 140 new units, totaling 17,139 MW.

The largest amount of new nonutility capacity, or about 61,823MW, is expected to be added in 2002. About 46,551 MW of newcapacity is scheduled to be in service next year.

Electric restructuring has led to a boom in nonutility powergeneration. The EIA report found that total nonutility generationin 1999 reached 167,357 MW, which was a 71% increase from theprevious year. However, only 21% of the total represented newplants. In 1999, about 50,000 MW of electric utility generationassets were purchased by nonutility generation companies. At theend of 1999, nonutility generation accounted for 19.8% of totalelectric generation in the country. The totals reported by EIAinclude all operable units, even those that did not run at all in1999 but are expected to return to service.

Gas-fired power accounted for the largest share of nonutilitygeneration last year, and the Pacific Census Division accounted for31.4% of that gas-fired capacity. The Pacific Census Division alsoaccounted for the greatest number (1,167) of total nonutilitygeneration and the most nonutility capacity (33,254 MW). Californiawas the dominant state in the division with 30,189 MW.

Gas-fired (only) generation represented 29.4% (49,353 MW) oftotal nonutility capacity in 1999, and petroleum/natural gas (fuelswitchable/combined) generation accounted for 24.2% (40,508 MW) ofthe total. Coal represented 28.9% (48,501 MW). Hydroelectric poweraccounted for 3.6%. Petroleum (only) totaled 2.2% and all othersources amounted to 11.5% of total nonutility generation.

The top five states based on existing nameplate capacity areCalifornia (30,189 MW), Illinois (24,013 MW), New York (17,256 MW),Pennsylvania (12,483 MW) and Texas (12,376 MW).

For a copy of the report go to EIA’s web site athttps://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/ipp/ipp_sum2.html .

Rocco Canonica

©Copyright 2000 Intelligence Press, Inc. All rightsreserved. The preceding news report may not be republished orredistributed in whole or in part without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.