Auglaize Hydroelectric Plant

The Auglaize hydroelectric plant is located on the Auglaize River, just south of Defiance, Ohio. The original dam was built in 1912 by the Auglaize Power Company at a cost of $500,000. It was shut down in 1962 and the generating equipment was relocated. The Auglaize plant sat vacant until the 1980s when Power Dam Corporation bought it. In 1994, Power Dam approached the city about purchasing the plant and in 1996, after extensive investigation and negotiation, Bryan purchased the plant for $1.12 million.

Key Benefits

• Generates income
• Increases our power-generating capacity
• Helps keep wholesale power costs steady
• Helps the environment by replacing power purchased from fossil fuel burning power plants

Capabilities

The Auglaize plant has six generating units differing in size and design. The two large units generate 1,100 kW. The smaller turbine, used for minimum flows, generates 140 kW. Three other units at the plant generate 800 kW each, for a full capacity output of 4,740 kW. The design of the units and the engineering allows BMU to take advantage of varying water flows and utilize the water efficiently. The smallest unit can generate during low flows and the larger units can generate during high tail waters.  In 2006, the Auglaize Hydroelectric Plant was able to generate a record 13,637,035 kilowatt hours or enough to supply 1,337 average homes in the city of Bryan for an entire year.  The Auglaize plant adds more capacity to Bryan Municipal Utilities existing generation and gives BMU the opportunity to sell power in the market. BMU also has contracts in place that sell generation capacity to other municipal utilities that need to protect themselves from the high cost of peak power on hot summer days. The Auglaize is one more power source BMU can call on to back up those contracts. This lessens the risk involved to Bryan and makes those contracts easier to enter into.