Fontana Dam — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 2779
- Capacity
- 254.7 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Hydro
- Technology
- Conventional Hydroelectric
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- Swain, NC
- Operating Since
- 1945
- Generators
- 3
- Operator
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Parent Company
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Annual Generation
- 878,953 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 39.3%
- Balancing Authority
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- SERC
Fontana Dam
OperatingHydro
Ranked #2 of 38 Hydro plants in NC#80 of 1454 nationally
254.7 MW Hydro operating in Swain, NC — Tennessee Valley Authority
EIAGEMWD
254.7 MW
Nameplate Capacity
3
Generators
units
Conventional Hydroelectric
Technology
1945
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
35.4507, -83.8050
County
Swain, NC
Nearby Plants
- SanteetlahHydro45 MW · 5.3 km
- CheoahHydro140 MW · 12.1 km
- CalderwoodHydro156.6 MW · 16.6 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority | — |
| Owner(s) | Tennessee Valley Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority | — |
| Status | Operating | operating | — |
Ownership Chain
About
Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, United States. The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s to satisfy the skyrocketing electricity demands in the Tennessee Valley to support the aluminum industry at the height of World War II; it also provided electricity to a formerly rural area.
Read more on WikipediaFontana Dam is a hydroelectric power plant located in Swain County, North Carolina. The plant is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Commissioned in 1945, it has a total installed capacity of 254.7 MW derived from three generators utilizing conventional hydroelectric technology. Fontana Dam is the second-largest hydroelectric plant in North Carolina (of 8 total) and ranks 80th nationally (of 194 total).
In the most recent year with available data, Fontana Dam generated 878,953 MWh of electricity. This corresponds to a capacity factor of 39.3%. The plant operates within the Tennessee Valley Authority balancing authority area and is located within the SERC NERC region.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
SERC
Balancing Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
Grid Voltage
161 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Federal
Sector
Electric Utility
Generation
76.8K MWh
Latest Month
879.0K MWh
Annual Generation
39.3%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2022 – Dec 2024
Financial Data
No financial data available for this plant.
Pricing & Market Data
This plant is outside organized wholesale electricity markets (ISOs/RTOs). Nodal pricing data is not available.
News & Articles (10)Beta
Industry·corporate
Behind Fontana Dam: the engineering marvel that powered World War II victory
Spurred by wartime necessity, TVA put up Fontana Dam — the tallest dam east of the Rockies — with record speed. The dam no one could get to...
TVA (operator)
The Beacon Tribune·1 years ago
Industry·corporate
Hazel Creek: You can't get there from here
FONTANA, N.C. — You've heard the saying, "You can't get there from here." That is almost true for Hazel Creek, a stream in the Great Smoky...
WTVC·1 years ago
Industry·corporate
Inside Fontana Dam: Rare tour inspires awe and reflection on a complicated history
It was one of the best opportunities I'd been given since I became a journalist and moved to Western North Carolina about seven years ago.
Smoky Mountain News·2 years ago
Industry·corporate
Open the dam gates!
A group stands in-between two of the three massive generators that power Fontana Dam's efforts Friday. The Tennessee Valley Authority...
Tennessee Valley Authority (operator)
The Graham Star·2 years ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles