Putting a plan in place

Cumberland River Basin Hydroelectric Life Extension and Upgrades Assessment

In the Cumberland River Basin, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operates nine hydroelectric power plants that generate $45 million in revenue each year for the United States Department of the Treasury. Looking ahead, the USACE wanted a solid investment strategy. Something that would maintain high reliability and availability while maximizing benefits to their power customers. The solution came in four phases.

Phase one—we did our homework. Our engineers visited the sites, assessed the conditions and identified opportunities. In phase two, we analyzed our results. We ranked over 400 work orders and grouped them to create over 70 executable projects across the fleet of plants.

For phase three, we created a plan. Our program management plan introduced program schedules, cash flow projections, and defined roles and responsibilities for finalizing direct funding agreements with power customers. 

Finally, in phase four, we took action. Currently we maintain the master program website where the status of projects and funding is continuously tracked. 

The result? An investment strategy positioned to extend project life, increase revenue, and reduce costs for the USACE Nashville District and their power customers.