The Generation Services Business Unit is dedicated to clean, reliable, and low-cost energy for our 12 participating public power communities and districts. We manage seven power plant sites with a capacity of over 600 megawatts – including geothermal steam, hydroelectric and natural gas-fired facilities – that, taken together, amount to a 96% emission free generation portfolio. NCPA’s Generation Services is responsible for state of the art operations and asset management of NCPA plants – which is vital to providing stable and reliable energy supplies to public power communities throughout Northern and Central California.

In addition to the facilities we operate, NCPA is leading the way in growing our renewable energy investments through the establishment of a new Green Pool where our members collectively contract for a diverse mix of renewable resources. The Green Pool will promote the market for renewable projects – and assure clean generation for our member communities.

As well, we continually strive to find innovative and productive new ways to enhance our existing facilities to increase renewable generation. For example, NCPA is now partnering with the California Energy Commission, through its grant process, to install new turbines to generate power as treated wastewater from neighboring Lake County is injected into the steam reservoir. This arrangement solves local environmental challenges, while lengthening the life of the Geysers’ steam field where our project is located.

Like the communities and districts we serve, NCPA’s Generation Services Unit is always striving to apply innovative new technologies and practices to promote the economy and protect our environment.

The NCPA Legislative and Regulatory Affairs department provides representation for NCPA members at the state and federal levels, and in both the legislative and regulatory arenas.  Through the active participation of the locally-elected officials who comprise NCPA’s Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, our agency advances consumer-oriented, environmentally and socially responsible policies on behalf of the communities we represent.

Throughout the year, NCPA members actively participate in state and local policy forums, and work closely with policymakers and their staffs to partner on initiatives that promote affordable, reliable, and clean energy resources.

The NCPA Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, comprised of locally-elected officials, meets regularly to chart the course for the agency’s policy programs – ensuring a direct linkage between NCPA and the interests of the communities and districts we serve.  This construct ensures that NCPA is a true voice of the consumer as we engage in state and federal policy debates.

The mission of the Power Management Business Unit is to enhance the financial positions of NCPA members through:

1. the economic planning, scheduling and dispatching of member contracts and assets to meet load
2. the effective management of NCPA power pool operations and contractual arrangements
3. integration and optimization of the Western power resource on behalf of the assigning pool members into pooled operations
4. management and coordination of power transportation arrangements, including the NCPA/CAISO Metered Subsystem Aggregation contract and the NCPA/Member Scheduled Coordination Program Agreement
5. coordination of joint and individual member service requests
6. management and coordination of purchase and sale activities within both member and NCPA risk management criteria
7. coordination of planning, operations, and maintenance activities with the CAISO as the control area operator, and
8. advocacy on behalf of members in technical, legislative, and regulatory proceedings.

The Business Unit's programs are divided into five subdivisions: