Oklahoma Gas & Electric says the installation of the first of two massive generating projects at its Horseshoe Lake Power station in central Oklahoma will become operational fix months earlier than originally planned.
The utility announced Horseshoe Lake Unit 11 passed all contractual performance tests on August 30 and is expected to enter commercial service in October.
Unit 11 is the first of two new simple-cycle combustion turbine units being added at OG&E’s Horseshoe Lake Power Plant. Together, Units 11 and 12 will provide approximately 448 megawatts of generation capacity—enough to power about 300,000 homes—and replace two less-efficient units that have reliably served our customers for 60 years and must be replaced. The company announced the beginning of the massive project two years ago. The new generation units were unanimously approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2023 to support OG&E’s growing service area.
“Completing Unit 11 ahead of schedule and under budget reflects our team’s commitment to safety, operational execution and dedication to our customers,” said Sean Trauschke, chairman, president and chief executive officer at OG&E. “Horseshoe Lake Unit 11 adds flexible generation that can respond quickly when customers need it most while helping us continue to deliver reliable electricity and keep bills as low as possible. Unit 12 is in the final stage of completion and will also be completed early and under budget.”
The utility originally estimated the costs of the 11 and 12 upgrade project at up to $375 million while additions put the maximum at more than $506 million. OG&E indicated that Unit 11 was finished under budget and the final total cost could be lower.
While completing its performance tests, Unit 11 operated on many of the summer’s hottest days, providing low-cost power to help meet the needs of OG&E customers. Once in commercial service, the unit will provide much needed low-cost, reliable power for the winter, which was not contemplated in the original schedule.
OG&E’s Horseshoe Lake Power Plant has served customers for more than 100 years. These new units continue that legacy of service while delivering increased capacity, improved efficiency and greater operational flexibility.
Unit 12 is also expected to enter commercial operation in October. Once both units are operating, they will support the regional grid and help OG&E meet customers’ current and future energy needs. Both units will be celebrated at a ceremonial ribbon cutting in November.
Just getting the large generators to the site was a significant undertaking for OG&E. The half-million pound transformers had to be slowly moved across 44 miles of Oklahoma County to the power plant at Harrah.
After arriving in Oklahoma by rail, the massive equipment required a coordinated fleet of heavy haul contractors, safety escorts, and special permits from Oklahoma County to move these super-loads. Specialized trailers with 240 tires were needed to carry the generators.
