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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Assessment of electric-utility ownership and operation of industrial cogeneration facilities. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6532117

The study team, with the assistance of a utility steering committee composed of representatives of 10 major investor-owned utilities, reviewed pertinent laws and regulations, held discussions with key regulatory personnel, defined prototypical ownership and operating arrangements, evaluated cogeneration facility technical characteristics and financial attractiveness, and determined specific measures designed to encourage greater utility involvement in the ownership and operation of industrial cogeneration facilities. Conclusions follows: under current laws and regulations, an unregulated subsidiary of an electric utility with or without a joint venture with an industrial customer is the most attractive ownership and operating arrangement; small natural gas-fired combustion turbines/heat recovery boiler cogeneration systems offer the highest and most stable financial attractiveness to electric utilities; and variations in steam and electricity transaction rates have a greater effect on the financial attractiveness of utility investments in industrial cogeneration facilities than variations in the cost of capital and the financial structure of electric utilities.

Research Organization:
Hagler, Bailly and Co., Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-81CS40538
OSTI ID:
6532117
Report Number(s):
DOE/CS/40538-T2; ON: DE83007985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English