Cowans Ford

257 Duke Lane, Stanley, NC 28164

Plant Summary Information

Cowans Ford is ranked #10 out of 33 hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina in terms of total annual net electricity generation.

Cowans Ford is comprised of 4 generators and generated 18.6 GWh during the 3-month period between September 2025 to December 2025.

Plant Name	Cowans Ford
Utility Name	Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Location	Lincoln County, NC
Initial Operation Date	September 1963
Last Update	Dec 2025
Annual Generation	124.9 GWh
Annual Consumption	472.5 k MMBtu
Ranked #3,225 out of 13,081 Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #281 out of 1,311 Water Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #62 out of 876 North Carolina Power Plants
Ranked #10 out of 33 North Carolina Water Power Plants
Fuel Types	Water

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Summary Information
Plant Name	Cowans Ford (2722)
Plant Address	257 Duke Lane, Stanley, NC 28164
Utility	Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (5416)
Latitude, Longitude	35.4346, -80.9588
Generation Dates on File	Jan 2001 to Dec 2025
Initial Operation Date	September 1963
Annual Generation	124.9 GWh
Fuel Types	Water

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Information
FERC Cogeneration Status	No
FERC Small Power Producer Status	No
FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator Status	No

Regulatory Information
Regulatory Status	Regulated
NERC Region	SERC
Balancing Authority	Duke Energy Carolinas (DUK)
NAICS Code	Utilities (22)
Sector	Electric Utility (1)
Water Source	Catawba River
Ash Impoundment	No
Transmission / Distribution Owner	Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (5416) NC
Grid Voltage	230.00 kV
Energy Storage	No

* Data obtained from the 2025 EIA 860 Report

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	87.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.95
Summer Capacity	81 MW
Winter Capacity	81 MW
Minimum Load	81 MW
Uprate/Derate Completed	No

Status	Operating
First Operation Date	September 1963
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Carbon Capture Technology	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	87.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.95
Summer Capacity	81 MW
Winter Capacity	81 MW
Minimum Load	81 MW
Uprate/Derate Completed	No

Status	Operating
First Operation Date	September 1963
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Carbon Capture Technology	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	87.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.95
Summer Capacity	81 MW
Winter Capacity	81 MW
Minimum Load	81 MW
Uprate/Derate Completed	No

Status	Operating
First Operation Date	September 1963
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Carbon Capture Technology	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	87.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.95
Summer Capacity	81 MW
Winter Capacity	81 MW
Minimum Load	81 MW
Uprate/Derate Completed	No

Status	Operating
First Operation Date	April 1967
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Carbon Capture Technology	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Owner Name	Address	Generator	Ownership
*We couldn't locate any owners for this plant*

Power plants with a similar annual net generation from Water.

Rank	Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation
#271	Faraday	Estacada, OR	133.1 GWh
#272	Nine Mile	Nine Mile, WA	132.2 GWh
#273	Great Falls (TN)	Rock Island, TN	131.1 GWh
#274	Whillock	Morrilton, AR	130.9 GWh
#275	J S Eastwood	Shaver Lake, CA	130.6 GWh
#276	Santeetlah	Robbinsville, NC	130.0 GWh
#277	Castaic	Castaic, CA	129.1 GWh
#278	Cabin Creek	Georgetown, CO	128.4 GWh
#279	Hauser	Helena, MT	128.4 GWh
#280	San Francisquito 1	Saugus, CA	125.4 GWh
#282	Columbus	Columbus, NE	124.6 GWh
#283	Estes	Estes Park, CO	123.4 GWh
#284	Watauga	Elizabethton, TN	121.6 GWh
#285	South Holston	Bristol, TN	121.5 GWh
#286	Dale Hollow	Celina, TN	120.9 GWh
#287	Oliver Dam	Columbus, GA	120.3 GWh
#288	Lemolo 1	Idleyld Park, OR	120.1 GWh
#289	Vernon Dam	Vernon, VT	119.5 GWh
#290	Clarence Cannon	Monroe City, MO	118.9 GWh
#291	Wissota	Chippewa Falls, WI	118.3 GWh

Below are closest 20 power plants surrounding Cowans Ford.

Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation	Distance
Auten Road Farm, LLC	Gastonia, NC	9.3 GWh	13.5 mi
Concord Farm	Concord, NC	1.6 GWh	16.6 mi
DE Solar 1725 Drywall Dr	Mt. Holly, NC	1.2 GWh	7.8 mi
Freemont Solar Center LLC	Stanley, NC	8.3 GWh	2.2 mi
Gaston County Renewable Energy Center	Dallas, NC	23.1 GWh	12.5 mi
Gaston Memorial Hospital	Gastonia, NC	22.0 MWh	15 mi
Gaston Solar Power Plant	Cherryville Township, NC	45.8 GWh	12.6 mi
Haynes Farm	Lincolnton, NC	7.9 GWh	16.8 mi
High Shoals Hydro (NC)	High Shoals, NC	3.0 GWh	13.9 mi
High Shoals PV1	High Shoals, NC	30.7 GWh	14.9 mi
Huntersville Delivery No 2	Huntersville, NC	1.0 MWh	7.9 mi
Lincoln Combustion	Stanley, NC	981.9 GWh	4.3 mi
Long Creek Waste Water Plant	Dallas, NC	407.0 MWh	13.3 mi
Maiden Creek Solar Power Plant	Maiden, NC	119.4 GWh	16 mi
Mariposa Solar Center LLC	Stanley, NC	8.5 GWh	8.3 mi
Marshall (NC)	Terrell, NC	7.5 TWh	11.3 mi
McGuire	Huntersville, NC	19.0 TWh	0.6 mi
Mountain Island	Mount Holly, NC	90.0 GWh	7.1 mi
Orbit Energy Charlotte	Charlotte, NC	199.9 MWh	14.5 mi
Reventure Park	Charlotte, NC	26.7 GWh	9.9 mi