As the population grew and demand for power was rising in the second half of the 20th century, SRP began constructing a series of thermal generating stations across the Valley.
Thermal power for a growing population
The first was Kyrene Generating Station, with units 1 and 2 completed in 1952 and 1954. Construction on Agua Fria Generating Station, sited on 80 acres of land in Peoria at Northern and 75th avenues, began shortly thereafter in 1955.
The first two units pictured above were formally dedicated on Feb. 7, 1958, with over 250 guests in attendance. The two units added over 200,000 kilowatts (kW) of power to the system, with the promise of “guaranteeing your electrical future.” Unit 3 was completed in 1961, adding another 168,000 kW and bringing SRP’s total generating capacity to over 600,000 kW. Following the completion of Unit 3, Agua Fria Generating Station was considered Arizona’s most efficient and modern power plant.
Did you know?
Agua Fria thermal power generating units are used to supplement base-load plants and add power during high demand peak times. It’s a quick source of electricity, capable of producing power within 20-30 minutes.
The plant’s load capacity is 626 megawatts from six units, plus 200 kilowatts from one solar generating unit.
Check back on the blog for more historical posts or visit srpnet.com/history to learn more about SRP.
