Power for Progress: Scheduled maintenance means reliability

Power pack
A turbine, which normally spins at the heart of the Unit 2 generator at the GRDA Grand River Energy Center (GREC), gleams in the light as it is inspected during a previous scheduled maintenance outage at the facility. Unit 2 is currently undergoing an outage to prepare the unit for operations during the high demand summer months.

Power for Progress…

A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority

Scheduled maintenance means reliability

Springtime and tune-ups just go together at the Grand River Dam Authority.

Since the early 1980s, when GRDA first began producing electricity with its two coal-fired generators at the Grand River Energy Center (GREC), the top priorities have always been safe and efficient operations.

To accomplish that requires regularly scheduled maintenance, experienced plant staff and, of course, a lot of teamwork. At no time is that more evident than during a scheduled maintenance outage, like the current outage taking place on GREC Unit 2.

As April began, GRDA took the unit out of service to complete the springtime tune-up and inspections which will help prepare the unit for operations in the year ahead, including the long and hot summer months in Oklahoma. Typically, these months are when customer demands for electricity are at their highest, so GRDA wants to make sure it can deliver.

During this scheduled outage, employees and contractors will complete hundreds of different tasks all across the unit, from inspection to cleaning, to parts replacement, and whatever else it takes to allow the unit to continue its efficient operations. Much planning and preparation goes into this work, so that it can be completed in an efficient and cost-effective manner. And always, safety is the top priority.

GRDA is proud of the employees who work round-the-clock to both maintain and operate these important Oklahoma electric generation assets that provide electricity for thousands of Oklahomans. Scheduled maintenance means continued high reliability.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s state-owned electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.