When the 15th Oklahoma Legislature created the Grand River Dam Authority in 1935, it charged the organization with some key responsibilities. Among those, were the responsibility of creating dams along the Grand River for the purposes of hydroelectric production and flood control. In 1938, work began on Pensacola Dam – the first hydroelectric project in Oklahoma. Stretching out for a mile across the Grand River valley, the dam provided a benefit to the state before it ever produced electricity, as thousands of workers flocked to the construction site for much-needed jobs during the Great Depression. With the completion of the dam and Grand Lake, the area was transformed from a rugged, rural landscape to the Oklahoma’s premier recreation destination. Meanwhile, inside the powerhouse, Pensacola’s six turbine-generators were at work producing low-cost, reliable and abundant electricity for Oklahoma. Interestingly, critics of the project said GRDA would never find a market for all the power produced by Pensacola Dam (96 megawatts at the time). Today though, GRDA’s total combined generation capacity is approximately 1,500 MW.

The Grand River Dam Authority provides wholesale electricity to electric cooperatives, industries and municipals across the state of Oklahoma. Indirectly, GRDA serves approximately half a million Oklahomans with low-cost reliable power.

GRDA is able to keep its power costs low because of a beneficial mixture of hydroelectric and thermal generation produced by three hydroelectric facilities along the Grand River system (Pensacola Dam, Robert S. Kerr Dam and the Salina Pumped Storage Project) and the thermal-generation Coal-Fired Complex near Chouteau, Oklahoma.

Another reason for GRDA’s low-cost, reliable power is public power. As a cost-of-service utility, GRDA is owned and governed by the people it serves: the citizens of Oklahoma. Meanwhile, GRDA low-cost, reliable electricity is an attractive inducement to new businesses, broadening the Oklahoma tax base, creating more jobs and local income.

According to the 2000 United States Census, four of the ten fastest growing counties in Oklahoma are in GRDA’s service area and Delaware County, the fastest growing in the state in that census, is home to the majority of Grand Lake. Finally, GRDA purchases materials and supplies from Oklahoma businesses, further enhancing local employment. GRDA funds are recirculated through the Oklahoma economy … something you may not find when investor-owned utilities pay dividends to out-of-state stockholders.

Providing low-cost electricity, 70,000 surface acres of water and a helping hand for economic development; that’s how GRDA flips your switch to brighten Oklahoma’s future!

The Grand River Dam Authority is proud to supply the 70,000 acres of lakes that encompass Oklahoma’s grandest water recreation destinations. Grand Lake, Lake Hudson and the W.R. Holway Reservoir have been the background where countless visitors have created wonderful memories over the years. Whether you want to fish, swim, ski, sail or just cruise and enjoy the scenery, GRDA encourages you to set a play date and come see what the waters of the Grand River system have to offer.