Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program

California Energy Commission

Date: 2001-2004

Location: California

Sponsor: California Energy Commission

Reports available: See sidebar

Background

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:

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

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 1: High Efficiency Electrical Equipment/Other Overall Electricity Conservation Efforts

Expanding buffer reservoirs to supply water users during the peak period (12 p.m.-6 p.m. M-F)
Installing variable frequency drives (VFDs)
Replacing well casings
Other innovative solutions

CATEGORY 2: Pump Efficiency Testing and Retrofit/Repair

Rebates for pump testing and retrofitting/repairs
Five ITRC-developed pump test training courses

CATEGORY 3: Advanced Metering and Telemetry

Installation of advanced metering and/or telemetry
Grants for participating in California ISO Demand Relief Program

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.