ARCHIVED REPORTS LEC APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

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SECTION 2.0:PROJECT DESCRIPTION During construction,field activities are accomplished during the last four stages of the project: receipt inspection,construction/installation, system/component testing, and plant operations. The construction contractor will be contractually responsible for performing the work in accordance with the quality requirements specified by contract. The subcontractors' quality compliance will be surveyed through inspections, audits, and administration of independent testing contracts. A plant operation and maintenance program, and specific vendor training,typical of a project this size,will be implemented by the LEC to control operation and maintenance quality. A specific program for this project will be defined and implemented during initial plant startup. 2.6 Thermal Efficiency The maximum gross thermal efficiency that can be expected from a natural gas-fired combined-cycle plant using one combustion turbine unit is approximately 55.6 percent on an HHV basis. This level of efficiency is achieved when a facility is base-loaded. Other types of operations,particularly those at less than full gas turbine output,will result in lower efficiencies. The basis of the LEC operations will be system dispatch within California's power generation and transmission system. It is expected that LEC will be primarily operated in load-following or cycling service. The number of startup and shutdown cycles is expected to range between zero and 182 per year. Plant fuel consumption will depend on the operating profile of the power plant. It is estimated that the range of fuel consumed by the power plant will be from a minimum of near zero British thermal units (Btu) per hour to a maximum of approximately 2,105 million Btu per hour (HHV basis) at base load and minimum ambient conditions. The net annual electrical production of the LEC cannot be accurately forecasted at the present time due to uncertainties in the system load dispatching model and the associated policies. However, due to the efficiency of the plant,its operating characteristics will be as described above. The maximum annual generation possible from the facility is estimated to be approximately 2,289 gigawatt hours per year. 2.7 Facility Closure Facility closure can be temporary or permanent. Temporary closure is defined as a shutdown for a period exceeding the time required for normal maintenance,including closure for overhaul or replacement of the combustion turbines. Causes for temporary closure include a disruption in the supply of natural gas or damage to the plant from earthquake,fire, storm, or other natural acts. Permanent closure is defined as a cessation in operations with no intent to restart operations owing to plant age, damage to the plant beyond repair,economic conditions,or other reasons. Section 2.7.1 discusses temporary facility closure;and Section 2.7.2 discusses permanent facility closure. 2-42 SAC/371322/082340003(LEC_2.0_PROJECT_DESC.DOC)