New pie chart 2Increase in Power Use 

Since the formation of Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) in 1974, the corporation’s Member Systems have experienced nearly continuous growth in their need for power. In 1975, the Members had a combined peak demand for power of 1,361 megawatts (MW).  By 2011,  that number had risen to 8,998 MW — a more than six-fold increase. 
    In terms of energy use, the Member Systems required 38,000,846 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electric energy in 2011. Of the total, Oglethorpe Power supplied 19,574,145 MWh of the energy the Member Systems required in 2011, or about 52 percent.  The EMCs secure the remainder of their power needs from various other power providers.
    Currently, Oglethorpe Power owns interests in 31 individual generating units representing 7,074 MW of generating capacity (based on Summer Rating Reserve Capacity for 2012). These generating resources include coal-fired capacity, gas-fired capacity, nuclear-fueled capacity, pumped storage hydroelectric capacity, and oil-fired  capacity.

    

Quick Facts

  • A megawatt equals one thousand kilowatts.
           

  • “Peak demand” occurs when consumers are using the most electricity — usually hot summer afternoons.
        

  • The Member Systems' peak use of electricity grew more than six-fold between 1975 and 2011.
        

  • There are 31 separate generating units in the OPC portfolio.
        

  • About 52 percent of Member EMCs' energy needs in 2011 were supplied by OPC.

 

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