Arizona G&T Cooperatives Choose EnCompass for Resource Planning
EnCompass Power Planning Software of Anchor Power Solutions optimizes power supply decisions while considering operational constraints and complex environmental requirements.
Benson, Arizona
Arizona G&T Cooperatives (AzGT) and Anchor Power Solutions announce they have partnered over the selection of Anchor Power’s EnCompass software to optimize resource planning decisions. By using EnCompass, AzGT will be able to select power supply options that provide for the lowest total cost to its members while maintaining reliability and complying with future potential environmental rules such as the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
“We selected EnCompass because of its capability to model and optimize under a variety of regulatory constraints,” said Logan Gernet, Manager of Resource Planning at AzGT.
“We believe this software will assist AzGT and its Members to make optimal resource decisions amid an increasingly uncertain regulatory and environmentally-conscious landscape.
“The current needs for detailed and comprehensive power supply planning cannot be adequately met by the traditional models used in the past,” said Norm Richardson, President of Anchor Power Solutions. “Anchor Power is proud to provide AzGT with a software solution that was specifically designed to address future complex regulations and constraints, while still being easy to implement, use, and maintain.”
About Arizona G&T Cooperatives
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services collectively make up AzGT. AEPCO owns and operates the 605 (combined gross) megawatt Apache Generating Station in Cochise, Arizona, east of Benson as well as more than 622 miles of transmission lines and 27 substations that transmit wholesale power from the Apache Generating Station to six Member Distribution Cooperatives in southern Arizona, northwestern Arizona, and California.Combined, the Distribution Cooperatives that receive AEPCO’s wholesale power serve more than 150,000 meters representing more than 400,000 individual residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial customers. The Class A Member Cooperatives that receive wholesale power from AEPCO include:
- Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative in Willcox
- Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative in Duncan
- Graham County Electric Cooperative in Pima
- Trico Electric Cooperative in Marana
- Mohave Electric Cooperative in Bullhead City
- California member – Anza Electric Cooperative in Anza
These member cooperatives own the AzGT and by extension, the G&T Cooperatives are owned by their members, the people at the end of the line who use the power. These cooperatives also borrow from RUS, a federal agency.
About Arizona’s Electric Cooperative Member-Consumers
The G&Ts and their member cooperatives are not-for-profit utilities that are owned by the people they serve, most of whom live in rural areas. These cooperatives depend on fewer consumer-members to share their costs than for-profit utilities. On average, one third of these consumer-members live at or below the federal poverty level. Cooperative consumer-members spend a higher percentage of their income on electricity than customers of for-profit utilities. Electric cooperatives provide much-needed, highly-skilled jobs for their communities.