Qualifying facilities and their effect on generation planning

Since the enactment of the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act in 1978, US utilities have been required to purchase energy and/or capacity from cogenerators and small-power producers meeting Federal Energy Regulation Commission Qualifying Facility (QF) standards, and to operate in parallel with those facilities serving their own loads. The author presents methods used by Florida Power Corporation to project both its potential loss in sales (energy and demand) and the amount of capacity and energy which are expected to be built by QFs to help meet Florida Power Corporation´s future needs. Contract provisions for power purchases from qualifying facilities to assure availability and reliability are also detailed