Duke Energy Requests Variance for Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights -

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC has submitted a notification to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project. The company has requested a variance to deviate from the Minimum Continuous Flow Release Requirement at the Lookout Shoals Development due to required hydro unit maintenance. This maintenance will impact the ability to provide the required flow, and Duke Energy is seeking approval to modify the maintenance schedule. The company has proposed an alternative plan to pulsing a larger unit or running a larger unit continuously during the project.

Key Takeaways:

  • Duke Energy has submitted a notification to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project.
  • The company has requested a variance to deviate from the Minimum Continuous Flow Release Requirement at the Lookout Shoals Development due to required hydro unit maintenance.
  • The maintenance will impact the ability to provide the required flow, and Duke Energy is seeking approval to modify the maintenance schedule.
  • Duke Energy has proposed an alternative plan to pulsing a larger unit or running a larger unit continuously during the project.
  • The company has already consulted with state and federal resource agencies, including the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • All agencies have expressed no concerns with the proposed plan.
  • Duke Energy is requesting a response from the Commission to the proposed plan by September 1, 2025.

Statistics:

  • The proposed variance request timeline is from November 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
  • The maintenance is expected to take 8 to 12 weeks to complete.
  • The flow during the project will be provided by pulsing a larger unit for one hour on and two hours off, or by running a larger unit continuously (approximately 1,050 cfs).
  • The dissolved oxygen levels in the Lookout Shoals Tailrace are not expected to be an issue due to the outage being scheduled during the latter half of 2025 and early 2026.

Sources:

  • Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Notification of Deviations from the Minimum Continuous Flow Release Requirement at the Lookout Shoals Development - Additional Information), dated May 22, 2025.
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Document P-2232-925.