Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will begin the annual process of lowering the water level upstream of the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant on the St. Joseph River to its winter level. The reservoir level at the hydroelectric plant will be lowered from 741.5 feet above sea level to 739.5 feet to prevent ice buildup during the winter season.
The process will start next Monday, Dec. 9 at the generating facility located on Johnson Street near downtown Elkhart. The reservoir level will decrease six inches at a time over a two-week period, allowing I&M to gather data and ensure the dam is operating as intended.
“Indiana Michigan Power encourages those who live along the St. Joseph River, especially residents within eight miles upstream of the Elkhart facility, to take note of the changing water level starting December 9,” said Richard Walag, I&M’s Hydroelectric Maintenance supervisor. “While the reservoir is at its lower elevation, residents may wish to remove boats or perform work and cleanup activities along the riverbank.”
The drawdown at the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant is in accordance with the operating license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The Elkhart Hydroelectric Facility has been in operation since 1913 and has a capacity of 3.44 megawatts -- the equivalent of powering 3,500 homes annually. The facility is one of six run-of-river hydroelectric plants on the St. Joseph River I&M owns and operates. “Run-of-river” means all water goes through the generation equipment inside the hydroelectric facility and the water is then returned to the river.
Combined, I&M’s six hydroelectric facilities generate more than 22 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 15,000 homes a year.
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.
About American Electric Power (AEP)
Our team at American Electric Power is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We are investing $54 billion from 2025 through 2029 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.