Xcel Energy has delayed the start up of its coal-fired Comanche 3 power plant in Pueblo until late March as it continues to troubleshoot problems with the unit’s boilers.
An Xcel spokesman said Tuesday that the company has fixed cracked and leaking boiler steam tubes that had plagued the project since late last year.
But now, Xcel is awaiting a new shaft for a boiler feed pump that was damaged by a vendor about two weeks ago, Xcel said in filings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The company expects delivery of the new shaft March 3, with startup scheduled for March 24.
One of Comanche 3’s two boiler pumps is functioning properly.
The $1 billion, 750-megawatt Comanche 3 unit was originally scheduled to go on line in November. Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz said there still could be more delays.
“As we indicated . . . late last year, it was possible that the in-service date could change several times in early 2010, as we continued testing to bring the unit up to full capacity,” Stutz said. “We remain hopeful that the plant will be in service by late March.”
In July, Xcel raised its rates, adding an average of $2.94 to customers’ monthly residential bills. In January, it raised rates again, adding $2.55 to the average home electricity bill. The utility plans to seek another rate increase once the plant is up and running.
The original delay in Comanche 3’s startup, leaking steam tubes, has been a problem in other boilers built by Xcel contractor Alstom Power.
Xcel has invested more than $1.7 billion in its Colorado operations since 2006, most of it for Comanche 3. Xcel also built two natural-gas plant units in Fort St. Vrain, put up transmission lines and installed equipment to improve its electric service.
The utility has said the new plants are needed to meet future demand.
Greg Griffin: 303-954-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, how Xcel Energy will spend money from its January rate increase was misstated. Most of the money will go to projects other than the Comanche 3 power plant. Also, the plant has one boiler, not two. It has two boiler pumps, one of which is functioning.
