Dix Dam — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 1354
- Capacity
- 28.2 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Hydro
- Technology
- Conventional Hydroelectric
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- Mercer, KY
- Operating Since
- 1925
- Generators
- 3
- Operator
- Kentucky Utilities Co
- Parent Company
- PPL
- Annual Generation
- 54,252 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 22.0%
- Balancing Authority
- Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- SERC
Dix Dam
OperatingHydro
Ranked #9 of 14 Hydro plants in KY#415 of 1454 nationally
28.2 MW Hydro operating in Mercer, KY — Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
EIAWD
28.2 MW
Nameplate Capacity
3
Generators
units
Conventional Hydroelectric
Technology
1925
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
37.7864, -84.7027
County
Mercer, KY
Nearby Plants
- E W BrownNatural Gas1582.6 MW · 0.9 km
- Mother Ann LeeHydro2.1 MW · 5.2 km
- SR Turkey Creek, LLCSolar50 MW · 24.5 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Kentucky Utilities Co | Kentucky Utilities | — |
| Owner(s) | Kentucky Utilities Co | PPL | — |
| Status | Operating | — | — |
Ownership Chain
About
Dix Dam is a hydroelectric power plant located in Mercer County, Kentucky. The plant, which began operating in 1925, has a total capacity of 28.2 MW derived from three generators. It is owned by PPL and operated by Kentucky Utilities Co. The primary fuel source is water (WAT), and the plant utilizes conventional hydroelectric technology. Dix Dam is ranked 9th out of 14 hydroelectric plants in Kentucky and 420th out of 1464 nationally.
In the most recent year with available data, Dix Dam generated 54,252 MWh of electricity, resulting in a capacity factor of 22.0%. The plant operates within the balancing authority of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, and it is situated in the SERC NERC region. Financial data indicates an installed cost of $1,317 per kW. The financial data source is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
SERC
Balancing Authority
Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
Grid Voltage
69 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Investor-Owned Utility
Sector
Electric Utility
Generation
5.5K MWh
Latest Month
54.3K MWh
Annual Generation
22.0%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2022 – Dec 2024
Financial DataBeta
Source: FERC Form 1HIGH
$1,481/kW
Installed Cost
$14.0/MWh
Operating Cost
Kentucky Utilities Company
Reporting Utility
Cumulative Installed Cost
Per-Unit Cost Trends
Pricing & Market Data
This plant is outside organized wholesale electricity markets (ISOs/RTOs). Nodal pricing data is not available.
News & Articles (10)Beta
General
Alternative Energy | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Solar, Wind, Fossil Fuels, Gas, Coal, Hydroelectricity, Biomass, & Nuclear
Can alternative energies effectively replace fossil fuels? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.
Britannica·5 days ago
Industry·corporate
This Central KY county is the latest to have heated data center debate
No plans have been submitted to officials who said they are deciding how to set a regulatory framework for data center projects in the area.
Lexington Herald Leader·3 weeks ago
Industry·corporate
Mercer County’s Dix Dam celebrates 100 years of renewable energy
This November marks 100 years of operations at Dix Dam, which is part of Kentucky Utilities' E.W. Brown Generating Station.
Kentucky Utilities (operator)
FOX 56 News·4 months ago
Industry·corporate
'The forever renewable': Can Kentucky harness more clean, reliable power from its rivers?
Hydropower still makes up a vast majority of Kentucky's renewable energy generation. Republicans are among those who see an opportunity for...
The Courier-Journal·6 months ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles