FAQ's

Question:

Can you post the dates and times of the Special Release Events on the web page?

Answer: 

The dates and times of releases for all scheduled Saturday and Special Events can be found on our web page by opening the Whitewater schedule button in the left window.

Question:

Is there a procedure for determining when Temperature Enhancement releases will occur? If so, can the information be made public on the web page?

Answer:

Deep Creek Power Plant uses a protocol developed during the permitting process to determine the need, timing and duration of Temperature Enhancement releases. The protocol uses air temperature, cloud cover factors, water temperature and river flow to predict river temperatures. The protocol uses different equations at different times of the day. The input data and calculations are not available on the web page. However, the Generator Status feature on the web page will show when Deep Creek is operating. The voice messaging system also will announce Temperature Enhancement releases. You can call the voice messaging system at (315) 413-2823

Question:

Is there any way to predict when Deep Creek Power Plant will operate?

Answer:

In general, Deep Creek operation follows peaks in consumer energy demands within the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland (PJM) energy market. Being a hydroelectric facility, we have the ability to start generation quickly in response to these, oftentimes, unpredictable fluctuations in the market. Sometimes these spikes in energy demand are of short duration; sometimes they extend for longer periods of time. We can not offer any method to accurately predict the length of generation. Deep Creek simply responds to these events, balancing the energy needs of the PJM market with water availability, permit restrictions and other water users.