Arizona G&T Cooperatives Energizes the Bagdad Interconnect Project to Boost Reliability for Mohave Electric Cooperative Members in Large Rural Area
After months of planning and construction, the new interconnection goes live without a problem
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
- Geoff Oldfather, (520) 586-5465, C: (520) 444-3473, email Geoff Oldfather
- J.D. Wallace, (520) 586-5157, C: (520) 235-4203, email J.D. Wallace
Bagdad, Arizona – Arizona G&T Cooperatives has completed construction of and energized a new interconnection – the Bagdad Interconnect Project – that improves reliability for Member distribution cooperative Mohave Electric Cooperative.
Planning and engineering for the project began several years ago, and AzGT transmission operations and maintenance crews have been working on the new one-mile, 115-kV transmission line near Bagdad, Arizona, for several months. The project included construction of the Bagdad substation, and an interconnect to an APS 115-kV line, enhancing electric reliability for Mohave Electric Cooperative Members in a large rural area that includes Wikieup.
Mohave EC’s system includes 65 miles of line and substations serving 41,000 Member-consumers at the end of the line.
Brad Gudvangen, AzGT substation and transmission engineering manager, explained how the interconnect benefits Mohave EC customers. “Say we have a lightning storm and an electric line goes down, or somebody runs into a power pole,” he said. “The new interconnection helps assure that Mohave EC customers don’t experience an outage,” he said.
Gudvangen praised the AzGT crews working on the project. “They’re some of the best in the utility business,” he said. “They know what they’re doing, they’re experienced and knowledgeable and they work hard. When a project comes together like this, and everybody’s safe, that’s a good deal.”
This is just one example of how AzGT has stepped up cooperation with its Members and other utilities to improve electric reliability.
About Arizona G&T Cooperatives
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Sierra Southwest (Sierra) together comprise Arizona G&T Cooperatives. AEPCO owns and operates the 625-megawatt (MW) (combined gross) Apache Generating Station, located at Cochise, east of Benson. AEPCO also owns, operates and maintains 866 miles of electric power transmission line—including line owned in part with other utilities—and 36 substations to provide wholesale electric power from Apache to 6 Member distribution cooperatives in southern Arizona, western New Mexico, northwestern Arizona and California.
Sierra is the vehicle to develop new ways to serve the renewable energy needs of AzGT Member cooperatives and customers, and helps maximize solar and other renewable tax credits. Sierra has initiated 2 utility-scale solar projects. AEPCO’s 20 MW Apache Solar project is located on AEPCO property adjacent to and northeast of Apache Generating Station. The second project includes SunAnza Phase I, a 2 MW solar array, as well as SunAnza Phase II, which includes an additional 1.4 MW solar array and a battery storage system, all on property owned by Anza Electric Cooperative adjacent to its headquarters in Anza, California.
Combined, the distribution cooperatives that receive AEPCO’s wholesale power serve more than 161,000 meters representing more than 420,000 individual residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial member/consumers.
The Class A Member cooperatives that receive wholesale power from AEPCO include Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative, Duncan; Graham County Electric Cooperative, Pima; Mohave Electric Cooperative, Bullhead City; Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Willcox; Trico Electric Cooperative, Marana; and a California member, Anza Electric Cooperative, Anza.
These Member cooperatives own AzGT and, by extension, AzGT’s Member distribution cooperatives are owned by their members—the people at the end of the line who use the power.
AEPCO also serves 5 Class D energy services Members which are scheduling and trading customers and which include the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Phoenix, AZ; Lincoln County Power District #1, Pioche, NV; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Southwest Public Power Agency, Maricopa, AZ; and Valley Electric Association, Pahrump, NV.
AEPCO is also a Member/owner of ACES, a nationwide energy management company that helps its Members and customers buy, sell, and manage energy more efficiently and with less risk. The AEPCO/AzGT Benson campus hosts the ACES West Regional Trading Center (WRTC), which benefits AEPCO/AzGT Members and customers.