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140 MW Hydro operating in Graham, NC — Tennessee Valley Authority
140 MW
Nameplate Capacity
5
Generators
units
Conventional Hydroelectric
Technology
1949
Operating Since
Coordinates
35.4478, -83.9383
County
Graham, NC
Nearby Plants
Owner data does not fully agree across sources.
EIA typically reports the operating utility, while GEM resolves to the financial owner or parent corporation. Both can be correct.
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower LP | Brookfield Renewable Partners LP | — |
| Owner(s) | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower LP | Brookfield Renewable Partners LP | Alcoa |
| Status | Operating | operating | — |
GEM identifies the owner as Brookfield Renewable Partners LP
This entity is not yet in the GEM ownership database — chain unavailable.
The Cheoah Dam is a hydroelectric dam located in Graham and Swain counties, North Carolina, on the Little Tennessee River between river miles 51 and 52. The Cheoah Development consists of a dam and powerhouse, the first of several constructed by the Tallassee Power Company, a subsidiary of Aluminum Company of America, in order to generate electricity to smelt aluminum in Alcoa, Tennessee. The name Cheoah comes from the Cherokee Native American word for "otter."
Read more on WikipediaThe Cheoah hydroelectric plant is located in Graham County, North Carolina. The plant has a total capacity of 140 MW across 5 generators, and it began operating in 1949. The primary fuel source is water (WAT), and the plant utilizes conventional hydroelectric technology. Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower LP is the operator. Cheoah is ranked 5th out of 8 hydroelectric plants in North Carolina, and 137th out of 194 nationally.
In the latest year of reported generation, Cheoah produced 484,893 MWh of electricity, resulting in a capacity factor of 39.5%. The plant operates within the Tennessee Valley Authority balancing authority and the SERC NERC region. Financial data is available for Cheoah, including a power purchase agreement (PPA) price of $79 per MWh, as reported to FERC.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Grid Region
Southeast
Market
SEEM Participant
NERC Region
SERC — SERC Reliability Corporation
Balancing Authority
42.8K MWh
Latest Month
484.9K MWh
Annual Generation
39.5%
Capacity Factor
Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower LP · Data from 2023–2025
$71.5/MWh
PPA Price
This plant's balancing authority participates in the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). SEEM is a bilateral exchange — no public nodal pricing.
No news articles linked yet for this plant.
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No ask pi reports yet for this entity.
ask pi about CheoahTennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Grid Voltage
161.0 kV
Regulatory Status
NR — Non-Regulated
Entity Type
Independent Power Producer
Sector
IPP Non-CHP