Hydroelectric Practice in the United States

Abstract The author discusses hydroelectric development in the United States from the earliest installation up to the present time. He points out that hydroelectric plants added to large power systems in this country during the past 15 years have been constructed because they have appeared to be more economical than thermal-electric plants for adding the same number of kilowatts to the same power system, excepting the construction of hydroelectric plants in those sections of the country where hydroelectric plants can compete with thermal electric plants in producing power and energy at the load factor of the utility loads. The author also discusses the design of equipment used in the older and in the more recent hydroelectric installations. The paper includes a list of the major hydroelectric installations in the United States together with their present rating and ultimate capacity.