Ed Gerak of the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association of Arizona: The Coming Irrigation Electricity Crisis
T
he prolonged drought in the Colorado basin is affecting every aspect of the power equation in Arizona, simultaneously reducing hydropower production and increasing the cost of hydropower and alternate power sources. This situation, along with water supply constraints, is likely to create a perfect storm for many irrigation districts. In this interview, Ed Gerak, the executive director of the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association of Arizona (IEDA), tells us about what this situation means for the association’s members and Arizona farmers. Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about your background and how you came to be in your current position. Ed Gerak: I managed an irrigation district that received a power allocation through the Arizona Power Authority from Hoover Dam for 10 years. Five years ago, I moved to the Arizona Power Authority, where I managed the Hoover Dam allocation for the state of Arizona. Recently, I moved to IEDA, which advocates on behalf of public power and federal preference power customers and our members, who have allocations from the Colorado River Storage Projects (CRSP) and the Hoover and ParkerDavis projects. Irrigation Leader: Please introduce IEDA and its members. Ed Gerak: IEDA is a collection of 25 entities, including irrigation electrical districts, municipalities, and one tribal entity, that have federal power allocations. We are deeply concerned about the viability and economics of the water, power, and agricultural nexus. Agriculture is a $23 billion business in Arizona, and the water and power provided by irrigation and electric districts help maintain and sustain the viability of crops in Arizona. Electrical facilities at Glen Canyon Dam.
Irrigation Leader: Where does Arizona’s power come from?
8 | IRRIGATION LEADER | July/August 2022
Irrigation Leader: What effects is drought having on hydropower generation? Ed Gerak: Our members have seen significant rate increases because of how the funding formula works. Since electrical sales are usually the only revenue source for these projects, as the dams produce less electricity, the rates need to increase to cover the operations budget. CRSP has been seeing significant reductions in energy production lately. Glen Canyon Dam represents 70–80 percent of the generation of CRSP. If its reservoir level fell below irrigationleadermagazine.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF IEDA.
Ed Gerak: Arizona produces 20 percent more energy than it uses. When it’s 120 degrees in Phoenix in July or August, we need to be able to keep up with the air conditioners. Arizona gets about 4 percent of its energy from hydropower. While it is not a large percentage of the state’s portfolio, hydropower plays a significant role in the West. The biggest provider of energy is natural gas, which makes up 40 percent of the portfolio. Nuclear power accounts for 33 percent, with coal at 15 percent and renewables, including hydropower, rounding out the portfolio at 12 percent.
