Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will begin the annual process of raising the water level upstream of the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant to its spring and summer operating level.
Starting Monday, March 16, the reservoir level at the generating facility on the St. Joseph River will increase by approximately six inches per day over four days. The reservoir will rise from 739.5 feet above sea level to 741.5 feet. The reservoir was lowered two feet in December 2025 to reduce ice buildup. The drawdown at the Elkhart Hydroelectric Plant was conducted in accordance with the operating license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Those who live along the St. Joseph River, especially residents within eight miles upstream of the facility, should complete work or cleanup activities before Monday, March 16 along the riverbank.
The Elkhart Hydroelectric Facility has been in operation since 1913 and has a capacity of 3.44 megawatts. It is one of six run-of-river hydroelectric plants on the St. Joseph River that I&M owns and operates. "Run-of-river" means water passes through the generating equipment inside the facility and 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 per year.
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La sede de Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) se encuentra en Fort Wayne, y sus, aproximadamente, 2,000 empleados prestan servicios a más de 600,000 clientes. Más del 85% de la energía eléctrica que proporcionó en 2024 fue libre de emisiones. I&M tiene a su disposición diversas fuentes de generación, lo que incluye 2,278 MW de generación de energía nuclear en Michigan, 450 MW de generación de energía eólica comprada de Indiana, más de 22 MW de generación de energía hidráulica en los dos estados y, aproximadamente, 35 MW de generación de energía solar a gran escala en los dos estados. 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 también es propietaria de AEP Energy, que brinda soluciones energéticas competitivas e innovadoras en todo el país. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.