How big is Smith Mountain?

Smith Mountain reports 547.5 MW hydroelectric of operating nameplate capacity. These technology ratings do not establish a common export limit. Source: EIA Sep 2026.

What kind of plant is Smith Mountain?

Smith Mountain is a Conventional Hydroelectric, Hydroelectric Pumped Storage facility in Pittsylvania County, VA, participating in the PJM market.

Where is Smith Mountain located?

Smith Mountain is in Pittsylvania County, VA, inside the PJM balancing area.

Who operates Smith Mountain?

Smith Mountain is operated by Appalachian Power Co according to the EIA generator inventory. Reporting membership does not by itself establish ultimate ownership.

How much electricity does Smith Mountain generate?

Smith Mountain reported -122.2 GWh over the twelve months to 2026-07. Figures are net generation as filed to EIA-923.

Where does Smith Mountain connect to the grid?

Smith Mountain interconnects at Smith Mountain 138 kV Station, on the AEP, through Appalachian Power Company system.

How does Smith Mountain compare to other plants?

By capacity, Smith Mountain ranks #43 of 1,356 operating plants of the same technology nationally. It ranks #1 of 22 in VA.

Smith Mountain — 548 MW hydro plant, Pittsylvania County, VA

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Smith Mountain — 548 MW hydro plant, Pittsylvania County, VA · Ask the Grid

Generation and physical site

EIA plant 3780 · Inventory for Sep 2026.

Reported operating nameplate by technology

Hydroelectric: 547.5 MW

Operating generators only. Battery power is in MW; stored energy is in MWh. These ratings do not establish a shared export limit.

Generator records (5)

EIA generator status and nameplate capacity for Smith Mountain
Generator	Technology	Status	Power (MW)	Energy (MWh)
1	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage	Operating	66	Unknown
2	Conventional Hydroelectric	Operating	150.1	Unknown
3	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage	Operating	115.3	Unknown
4	Conventional Hydroelectric	Operating	150.1	Unknown
5	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage	Operating	66	Unknown

Physical map location · OpenStreetMap: 37.04091, -79.53586
Filed location · EIA: 37.04130, -79.53560

Sources and observation dates

Inventory source: EIA-860M workbook (preliminary)
EIA reporting month: Sep 2026
EIA retrieved: Oct 24, 2026
OSM extract: Oct 9, 2026
OSM last mapped edit: May 15, 2024
Map prepared: Oct 24, 2026
Field verification: Not reported

Reporting month describes the inventory. Retrieval and map preparation describe processing; an OSM edit does not establish an in-service date.

EIA source inventory

Units and generators

Current generator records and technology attributes reported through EIA-860.

Generator	Capacity	Technology	Operation	Status
1	66 MW 66 MW summer	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage PS	Dec 1965	Operating
2	150.1 MW 174 MW summer	Conventional Hydroelectric HY	Dec 1965	Operating
3	115.3 MW 106 MW summer	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage PS	Jun 1980	Operating
4	150.1 MW 174 MW summer	Conventional Hydroelectric HY	Feb 1966	Operating
5	66 MW 66 MW summer	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage PS	Feb 1966	Operating

Commercial, land, and environmental record

Source-backed project transactions, agreements, land records, permits, and environmental disclosures. Portfolio and adjacent-project facts remain explicitly scoped.

Land and environmental record

Draft Environmental Permit

Draft Virginia Water Protection Individual Permit 24-1547

The draft DEQ permit names Appalachian Power Company as permittee and the Smith Mountain Lake Hydroelectric Project as the facility. The draft shows placeholder effective and expiration dates; no final permit dates are available in cited materials.

Source

Public Landowner

Appalachian Power-owned islands are publicly accessible for recreation

The operator's Island Management Plan addresses Appalachian Power-owned islands, and public recreational use of those islands is permitted, subject to the operator's stated guidance and management provisions.

About Smith Mountain Project

Waste Management Compliance

Mar 31, 2026

FERC Article 411 debris-management compliance and disposal program

The 2025 annual report, filed March 31, 2026, was submitted under FERC License Article 411. Appalachian must remove and properly dispose of reservoir debris from April through October when it creates safety hazards, interferes with public access, or causes adverse aesthetic impacts.

Source

Water Quality Compliance

Draft VWP Permit 24-1547 requires a Dissolved Oxygen Improvement Plan

The draft permit requires a Dissolved Oxygen Improvement Plan within 240 days of issuance and continued study, monitoring, and identification of additional improvement methods below Smith Mountain Dam to address prior feasibility study findings.

Source

Water Use Authorization

VWP Permit 24-1547 authorizes continued hydroelectric and pumped-storage operation

The draft permit authorizes diversion of surface water through two powerhouses, pumping from Leesville Lake to Smith Mountain Lake for generation and storage, and required minimum release to the Roanoke River. Other uses are not authorized.

Source

Mapped facility footprint

Related parties and identifiers

Parties, market resources, and identifiers tied to this asset, with owner, operator, developer, EPC, compliance provider, and interconnecting entity roles kept separate.

Parties and identifiers

OrganizationRoleBasis

Reporting portfolio

EIA reporting entity

Appalachian Power Co

Entity 733

Operating portfolio

16 plants

4 states

Reported capacity

6,863 MW

Conventional Hydroelectric · Conventional Steam Coal · Hydroelectric Pumped Storage

Largest reported plants in this portfolio
Largest reported plants	Capacity	State
John E Amos	2,932.6 MW	WV
Mountaineer	1,300 MW	WV
Dresden Energy Facility	678.3 MW	OH
Smith MountainCurrent	547.5 MW	VA
Ceredo Generating Station	519 MW	WV
Clinch River	475 MW	VA
Top Hat Wind	204 MW	IL
Claytor	74.8 MW	VA

Portfolio membership follows the latest EIA-860 reporting entity. It does not imply ultimate ownership.

View full reporting portfolio

Overview

Overview

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Infrastructure record

Profile

Structured profile

Generation and physical site

Reported operating nameplate by technology

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Units and generators

Performance

Peer context

Monthly generation

Grid and market context

Market registration

Nearby substations

Commercial, land, and environmental record

Land and environmental record

Related parties and identifiers

Parties and identifiers

Reporting portfolio

Timeline and sources

Project timeline

Sources

Common questions about Smith Mountain

How big is Smith Mountain?

What kind of plant is Smith Mountain?

Where is Smith Mountain located?

Who operates Smith Mountain?

How much electricity does Smith Mountain generate?

Where does Smith Mountain connect to the grid?

How does Smith Mountain compare to other plants?

Co-located assets

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