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United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Allegheny Electric Cooperative Announces Planned Operations for Raystown Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Allegheny Electric Cooperative (AEC) has submitted a document to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) outlining planned operations for the Raystown Hydroelectric Project (Raystown Project) in 2025 and 2026. The project, located in Pennsylvania, will undergo several maintenance and inspection activities to ensure continued safe and reliable operation. These activities include the replacement of aged wood poles with steel poles, a dewatered tunnel inspection, and the installation of automated data acquisition systems (ADAS) on piezometers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Allegheny Electric Cooperative (AEC) will replace four additional wood poles with steel poles in September 2025, bringing the total number of steel poles to 12 out of 23.
  • The dewatered tunnel inspection is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2026 (mid-October to December) pending discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE).
  • The inspection report prepared by Lithos Engineering in August 2023 recommended an in-person inspection of the dewatering tunnel within the next 10 years and the removal of oxidation at the penstock joints.
  • AEC will replace the Unit 1 turbine shutoff valve and address the build-up of oxidation at the penstock joints during the dewatered inspection.
  • The installation of ADAS on the three Raystown Project piezometers will provide real-time data to supplement monthly manual readings and benefit the 2026 dewatered tunnel inspection.

Statistics:

  • 4 additional wood poles will be replaced with steel poles in September 2025.
  • The total number of steel poles will be 12 out of 23 after the replacement.
  • The dewatered tunnel inspection is scheduled for Fall 2026 (mid-October to December).
  • The inspection report prepared by Lithos Engineering on August 2023 identified leakage at the Unit 1 turbine shutoff valve.
  • 11 of the original poles will remain after the replacement of the 4 additional poles.
  • The tunnel has been dewatered only once, in 1989 shortly after the project commenced operation in 1988.

Sources:

  • Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AEC) (no date): 2025 and 2026 Planned AcOviOes at Raystown Hydroelectric Project, P-2769 (submitted to FERC)

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