Irrigation Load Control

Enel makes participation easy. They take care of everything – enrollment, installation, notifications, load control events, performance calculations and payments – so you can stay focused on running your operations.

1. Enel will work with Rocky Mountain Power customers to enroll the irrigation pumps that best fit the program and provide the greatest financial incentives to the participant.

2. During the program season, Enel provides irrigators with notice 4 hours prior to upcoming load control vents ande always provides an option to opt-out.

3. Enel’s load control devices shut off irrigation pumps automatically at the start of the dispatch and release control of the pumps at the end of the dispatch, allowing them to restart.

4. Enel pays irrigators in the fall after the season has ended based on average available load during program hours, adjusted for the percentage of events in which they participated.

Irrigation Load Control is open to Rocky Mountain Power irrigation customers in Idaho and Utah served on Schedule 10 tariff who can temporarily shut off electric irrigation pumps during periods of peak demand. Enel will partner with irrigators to enroll any pumps that can deliver value to the customer, to the program.

The pay for performance structure compensates irrigators for the average available load (measured in kW) a pump can reliably shut off during program ours, adjusted for event participation. This kW per pump is then multiplied by the incentive rate. Each customer’s incentive rate is set by their average expected kW per pump, according to the table below.

• Average available load is measured by the load control devices on each pump. It is the average demand (kW) during all program hours (weekdays from 2 p.m. -9 p.m.), excluding days when events are called. A pump’s available load depends on its size and how often it is running.
• If a customer chooses to opt-out of a load control event, the available load is adjusted down by the percent of events in which they elect to opt-out.
• If a site participates in every mandatory event, their incentive will be calculated with the Bonus Incentive Rate in place of the Base Incentive Rate.

Some pumps don’t use enough electricity during peak periods to cover the costs of their participation. All schedule 10 customers can participate, but if an irrigator’s average load per pump is less than 50 kW, then a one-time enrollment fee of $1,500 per pump may apply. The installation fee is needed to ensure the cost-effective operation of the program. To find out which of your pumps are the best fit for the program and whether they qualify for free enrollment, contact one of Enel’s irrigation specialists at 1-888-363-7662 to review your pumping operations in detail.

A voluntary event is a request to shut off pumps outside of established program days and hours or if the limitations for mandatory events have been reached. Participating customers may choose to opt-out of voluntary events with no penalties or reductions in their total financial compensation for their participation in the Irrigation Load Control Program. Irrigators who choose to participate during a voluntary event may receive additional compensation. Voluntary events may be called anytime from May 27 through September 30.

The number and frequency of load control events in each season is based on the peak management needs of the electric system, but the frequency and duration of mandatory Irrigation Load Control events are limited to a maximum of 12 event hours per week and 52 event hours per season. There is also a maximum of one event per day and 20 events per season. Events typically last four hours, but they can range from one to four hours. 

Additionally, up to three mandatory events can be scheduled in a week. If three mandatory events have already been scheduled in a week, each additional event in that week will be classified as voluntary.

Customers may choose not to participate (opt-out) in any event. Opting out of mandatory events lowers a customer’s average participation percentage and payment proportionally, with downside protection for seasons when only a small number of events are called.

The program will run each year from the last week of May through September 30. You can enroll at any time, but we recommend you sign up as soon as possible to ensure your equipment gets installed and tested before the program period begins. Incentive payments are delivered after the end of the season.

Designed specifically for irrigation pumps, Enel’s 5^th generation Site Server (ESS) is based on technology proven at thousands of sites nationwide. The ESS allows Enel’s Network Operation Center (NOC) to remotely control irrigation pumps during load control events and tracks energy use at 5-minute intervals. The energy data can be viewed in real-time from most web-enabled devices.

If the question or issue is related to the Irrigation Load Control Program:

• Contact Enel’s customer support at support.enelx@enel.com

If the question or issue is related to any other Rocky Mountain Power program or service or your utility bill:

• Contact Rocky Mountain Power Customer Service at 1-888-221-7070 or the Irrigation Hotline at 1-800-715-9238.
  

If Enel and Rocky Mountain Power are unable to resolve your concern, then you may issue a complaint with the commission in your state; Utah Public Service Commission or Idaho Public Utility Commission.