Osage River Basin Headwater Benefits Energy Gains (HWBEG) Assessment
Missouri and Kansas

Berger conducted a Headwater Benefits Energy Gains (HWBEG) assessment for the Osage River Basin for use by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Hydropower Licensing, Division of Licensing and Compliance, Engineering Compliance Branch (Commission or FERC). The Commission conducts headwater benefits determinations pursuant to the requirements of Section 10(f) of the Federal Power Act. Section 10(f) directs the Commission to assess owners of downstream, nonfederal hydropower projects benefited by a storage reservoir or other headwater improvement constructed by another licensee, permitted, or the United States.

Berger is working with the hydroelectric project owners, the local United States Geological Survey, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies to develop data sets for each reservoir and hydroelectric project. Once the data sets are complete, Berger energy experts will conduct a daily simulation of the river basin using the Headwater Benefits Energy Gains (HWBEG) model to determine the energy gains from the regulated flows for the privately owned hydroelectric project. Upon completion of the data sets, Berger will assist FERC in calculating the headwater benefits.

To determine energy gains in the Osage River Basin from its headwaters to Bagnell Dam and the Osage hydropower project, Berger developed model data sets to simulate the daily change in reservoir storage for each upstream headwater project. Berger also developed flow versus generation rating curves to simulate power production at the Harry S Truman and Osage hydropower projects. In addition, Berger has developed a routine to simulate the operation of the Harry S Truman and Osage reservoirs. These routines were developed based on operational curves and information supplied by the project operators, supplemented with observed operational trends. Finally, Berger determined basin-wide

Section 10(f) costs, which are defined as the annual interest, depreciation, and maintenance costs of headwater project’s joint-use facilities. These costs were then apportioned among the headwater projects and downstream beneficiaries based on calculated energy gains. The costs apportioned to downstream beneficiaries make up the HWBEG assessment.