Drought hurts hydro-electric power, too - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Drought hurts hydro-electric power, too

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, June 20 2013 12:09 AM EDT2013-06-20 04:09:02 GMT
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.   WG&L leaders say the utility is paying $20,000 dollars a month
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:41:18 GMT
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today. Century Pines Assisted Living Center threw a party for resident Charles Walker who turned 101 today. Walker was
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:34:54 GMT
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing. A couple of businesses are thriving there. The new art park is open, and a sidewalk improvement
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing.

July 21, 2006

Albany-  The water level continues to drop on the Flint River and it's dropping the amount of energy generated by the Flint River hydro-electric Plant.  There's hardly any water coming through the Flint River Dam.

Water is being held in the reservoir to maintain it's levels, sending even less water down the Flint. It's had an affect on the power the plant normally generates.

"On the average, we're down three quarters on normal generation," said Don Bowen, Compliance Team Leader for Georgia Power. 

Overall that means Georgia Power's capacity to produce hydro-power, which is free, is reduced and the capacity has to be made up elsewhere. It's forced Georgia Power to use more oil fired units to create energy which costs more to produce.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=GAPowerDam/JE