Upgrades to Duke Energy Indiana’s Markland Hydro Station approved

Upgrades for Duke Energy Indiana’s Markland Hydro Station were approved by state regulators this month, which will provide greater energy output, improved reliability and new equipment for the station near the Ohio River.

The $152 million project is expected to increase the station’s energy output by approximately 10 percent.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approval came shortly after a settlement agreement was reached with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC).

“We are pleased with the commission’s decision that allows us to keep the Markland Hydro Station
operating for many more years,” said Melody Birmingham-Byrd, state president of Duke Energy Indiana. “The low-cost, carbon-free power generated at Markland is an important part of our diversified portfolio of generation sources.”

Duke Energy Indiana provides around 7,100 megawatts of owned electric capacity to more than 810,000 customers spanning a 23,000 square-mile service area.

The Markland Hydro Station, located along the Ohio River, has three hydroelectric generators, turbines and associated equipment that is approaching 50 years in service. The equipment and modernization project is set to begin in early 2017 and is expected to take around four years to complete.

“The agreement that received commission approval in this case is the result of good-faith negotiations between the OUCC and Duke Energy,” said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor David Stippler. “The order ensures that Duke Energy’s customers will continue to benefit from this renewable energy source that has served them dependably for many years, while doing so at a reasonable cost.”