GWP says new battery and wheeling purchases will blunt summer peak; staff prepare targeted customer alerts

Glendale Water and Power staff reviewed 2025’s milder system conditions and laid out the utility’s preparations for summer 2026, including battery dispatch, transmission wheeling purchases and customer conservation outreach.

Presenter (speaker 10) summarized that 2025’s peak reached about 284 MW (lower than a September 2024 peak of 351 MW) and that the resource stack for 2026 expects a 20 MW contribution from the new Grayson battery (four‑hour duration) plus a 25 MW wheeling purchase for July–September to free transmission capacity. The battery is undergoing hot commissioning and staff said they expect partial availability in mid‑June, with the device intended to provide about 20 MW during critical periods and to be charged strategically using optimization software.

Staff emphasized that customer outreach—flyers, emails to major commercial customers and targeted peak alerts—will be used to encourage conservation during peak events. Commissioners asked about the battery commissioning schedule and contingency planning; staff said they were confident in the commissioning progress but will continue monitoring and provide updates.

The presenter also described coordination with marketing for consumer education and stressed that if market energy is available staff will procure it to ensure reliability even if costs are high. No formal action was taken; staff will continue testing the battery system and execute the wheeling contract for summer months.

The meeting closed the item with commissioners asking for continued updates on battery performance, any changes to the resource stack and outreach timing.