Hoover Dam
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Hydropower at Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam generates, on average, about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year for use in Nevada, Arizona, and California - enough to serve 1.3 million people. From 1939 to 1949, Hoover Powerplant was the world's largest hydroelectric installation; today, it is still one of the country's largest.
Where is the powerplant located?
In a U-shaped structure at the base of the dam. Each powerplant wing is 650 feet long (the length of almost 2 football fields) and rise 299 feet (nearly 20 stories) above the powerplant foundation. In all of the galleries of the plant there are 10 acres of floor space.
What is the capacity of the Hoover Powerplant?
There 17 main turbines in the Hoover Powerplant -- nine on the Arizona wing and eight on the Nevada wing. The original turbines were replaced through an uprating program between 1986 and 1993. The plant has a nameplate capacity of about 2,080 megawatts. This includes the two station-service units (small generating units that provide power for plant operations), which are rated at 2.4 megawatts each. With the main units having a combined rated capacity of 2,991,000 horsepower, and two station-service units rated at 3,500 horsepower each, the plant has a rated capacity of 2,998,000 horsepower.
How does the water reach the turbines?
Through four penstocks, two on each side of the river. Wicket gates control water delivery to the units.
Under what heads do the turbines operate?
Maximum head (vertical distance the water travels), 590 feet; minimum, 304 feet; average, 510 to 530 feet.
When were the power installations in the plant completed, and of what do they consist?
The installation of the last generating units was completed in 1961. A plant uprating was completed in 1993, so presently there are fifteen 178,000 horsepower, one 100,000 horsepower, and one 86,000 horsepower Francis-type vertical hydraulic turbines in the Hoover powerplant. There are also thirteen 130,000 kilowatt, two 127,000 kilowatt, one 61,500 kilowatt, and one 68,500 kilowatt generators. All machines are operated at 60 cycles. The two 2,400 kilowatt station-service units are driven by Pelton water wheels. These provide electrical energy for lights and for operating cranes, pumps, motors, compressors, and other electrical equipment within the dam and powerplant.
How was the powerplant machinery transported from the canyon rim to the powerplant?
An electrically operated cableway of 150 tons rated capacity, with a 1,200-foot span across the canyon, lowered all heavy and bulky equipment. The cableway is still used when necessary.
How much energy does Hoover Powerplant produce on a yearly basis?
The average annual net generation for Hoover Powerplant for 1947 through 2008 was about 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours. The ten-year annual average for 1999 through 2008 was about 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours. The maximum annual net generation at Hoover Powerplant was 10,348,020,500 kilowatt-hours in 1984, while the minimum annual net generation since 1940 was 2,648,224,700 kilowatt-hours in 1956.
What is a kilowatt-hour?
It is a unit of work or energy equal to that done by one kilowatt of power acting for one hour. A kilowatt is 1,000 watts or 1.34 horsepower.
Who operates and maintains the powerplant?
The powerplant is operated and maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Who are the principal contractors for energy?
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Anza Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Arizona Power Authority
Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians
Bishop Paiute Tribe
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
California Department of Water Resources
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
City of Anaheim, California
City of Azusa, California
City of Banning, California
City of Boulder City, Nevada
City of Burbank, California
City of Cerritos, California
City of Colton, California
City of Corona, California
City of Glendale, California
City of Los Angeles, California
City of Pasadena, California
City of Rancho Cucamonga, California
City of Riverside, California
City of Vernon, California
City of Victorville, California
Colorado River Commission (CRC)
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Gila River Indian Community
Hualapai Indian Tribe
Imperial Irrigation District
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
Las Vegas Paiute Tribe
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
San Diego County Water Authority
San Luis Rey River Indian Water Authority
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Southern California Edison
Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA)
Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
Tohono O’Odham Nation
Tonto Apache Tribe
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians
Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Western Area Power Administration
How is the firm energy generated at Hoover Dam allocated?
Arizona - 18.9527 percent
Nevada - 23.3706 percent
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - 28.5393 percent
Burbank, CA - 0.5876 percent
Glendale, CA - 1.5874 percent
Pasadena, CA - 1.3629 percent
Los Angeles, CA - 15.4229 percent
Southern California Edison Co. - 5.5377 percent
Azusa, CA - 0.1104 percent
Anaheim, CA - 1.1487 percent
Banning, CA - 0.0442 percent
Colton, CA - 0.0884 percent
Riverside, CA - 0.8615 percent
Vernon, CA - 0.6185 percent
Boulder City, NV - 1.7672 percent
How is the income from the sale of power used?
To pay all operation, maintenance and replacement costs (including interest expense and repayment of investments) to meet the requirements of the project. The cost of construction completed and in service by 1937 was repaid from power revenues by May 31, 1987, except for costs relating to flood control. Repayment of the $25 million construction costs allocated to flood control will be repaid by 2037. Any features added after May 31, 1987 will be repaid within 50 years of the date of installation or as established by Congress. In addition, Arizona and Nevada each receive $300,000 annually in lieu of taxes.
General Facts on Hydropower
Hydroelectricity is a clean, renewable (the water is not consumed and can be used for other purposes) source of energy that does not result in air pollution, chemical runoff, or toxic waste, and is therefore beneficial to the environment. However, the construction of dams to provide hydroelectricity can affect the ecology of an area, so careful planning and licensing of hydroelectric dams are required to minimize such impacts.
What are the primary parts of a generating unit?
The Exciter
The RotorThe Stator
The Shaft
The Turbine
The exciter is itself a small generator that makes electricity, which is sent to the rotor, charging it with a magnetic field.
The rotor is a series of electromagnets, also called poles. The rotor is connected to the shaft, so that the rotor rotates when the shaft rotates.
The stator is a coil of copper wire. It is stationary.
The shaft connects the exciter and the rotor to the turbine.
Water strikes the turbine causing it to spin. Hoover Dam uses Francis turbines.
How does a generator produce electricity?
Water flows through large pipes inside a dam and turns a large wheel called a turbine. The turbine turns a shaft which rotates a series of magnets past copper coils and a generator to produce electricity. This converts the energy of falling water into mechanical energy to drive the generator.
Here’s a more detailed explanation: The water’s force on the blades of the turbine turns a rotor – a series of magnets - which is the rotating portion of the generator where a magnetic field is created. The stator is the stationary part of the generator made of coils of copper wire. Electricity is produced as the magnets of the rotors spin past the stationary wiring of the stator. This concept was discovered by scientist Michael Faraday in 1831 when he found that electricity could be created by rotating magnets within copper coils.
