Little Rock, Ark. — July 11, 2024 —Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC), the wholesale power provider for Arkansas’ 17 electric distribution cooperatives, is celebrating 75 years of providing power service to Arkansas electric cooperative members.
Based in Little Rock, AECC was incorporated on July 11, 1949. AECC’s primary mission is to provide 1.2 million electric cooperative members with Reliable, Affordable and Responsible electricity by generating and delivering wholesale electric energy – along with related services – to its 17 member-owned electric distribution cooperatives in Arkansas.
AECC and its member cooperatives serve about 62% of the geographical area of Arkansas and approximately 30% of the total electricity load in the state. AECC is also a member of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool regional transmission organizations.
AECC’s generation portfolio includes two natural gas/oil-based plants, three hydroelectric generating stations on the Arkansas River and four natural gas-based plants.
AECC also co-owns four coal-based power plants although two are set to retire due to federal regulations: the White Bluff Steam Electric Station in Redfield and the Independence Steam Electric Station in Newark in 2028 and 2030 respectively. This will represent a loss of 25% of AECC’s power portfolio. Currently, AECC’s generating capacity is 4,269 megawatts.
AECC’s newest generation facility – the Woodruff County Solar project, a 122-megawatt solar array, located adjacent to the former Carl Bailey Generation Station in Augusta – is scheduled to commence commercial operation this summer.
AECC also has 20 to 25-year power purchase agreements for about 474 megawatts of wind energy and has contracted to receive up to 27 megawatts of solar energy.
Altogether, the total amount of these resources is approximately 793 megawatts, which represents more than 20% of the cooperative’s generation energy portfolio.
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise 17 electric distribution cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides various services to the distribution cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to approximately 600,000 members, or customers, in Arkansas and surrounding states.
For additional information, contact:
Rob Roedel, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, at (501) 570-2296 or email Rob.