Diversification and
Operation

In August 2019, operations and maintenance staff used innovative techniques to repair the Lake Hodges Hydroelectric and Pump Station Facility. The facility moves water between the Olivenhain and Hodges reservoirs, and generates up to 40 megawatts of energy on demand, helping to balance the region’s electrical supply and demand. Crews discovered the insulation on the copper bus bars of the generator’s rotor were worn and damaged, creating potential power production problems. Staff took on the repairs in-house using a baking and curing technique, saving time and money compared to using a vendor. Crews also maintained operation of the Unit 1 rotor while making the repairs to the Unit 2 rotor. This allowed the Water Authority to avoid a total shutdown and loss of all revenue during repairs. The Rotating Equipment Team’s proactive efforts produced high-quality results which would have been difficult for vendors to achieve.