Ketchikan, Alaska relying on diesel powered generators, hydropower
10/23/2018 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Energy
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK
Ketchikan, AK
Start Date: 8/31/2018
- End Date: 4/15/2019
Diesel was still being used to power Ketchikan in February 2019 as below normal rainfall during the 2018 summer prompted Southeast Alaska Power Agency to sell 32 gigawatt hours of hydropower from Tyee Lake to Ketchikan Public Utilities to reduce the need for diesel power.
KRBD (Ketchikan, Alaska), Feb. 7, 2019
Rain in the latter part of October 2018 allowed Ketchikan Public Utilities to return to hydropower production, but more rain was needed. October was the 8th driest one on record at around 60 percent of normal precipitation.
Juneau KTOO (Alaska), Nov. 1, 2018
Drought prompted Ketchikan Public Utilities to alternate between hydro and diesel for power, but as of Oct. 15, lake levels were low enough that the utility began relying solely on diesel for power. To make sure that the community would have sufficient power through the winter, two additional diesel-powered generators were rented for the next four to six months.
KRBD (Ketchikan, Alaska), Oct. 19, 2018
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