Power Supply

KAMO Power’s power supply has evolved significantly since its early years. Initially, KAMO’s power supply was through contracts with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) and the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) for electricity generated from the new hydroelectric projects being constructed in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The name “KAMO” reflects its original footprint across Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. KAMO’s membership initially consisted of distribution cooperative members in all four states.

SWPA became KAMO’s source of electricity in Missouri, with the proximity of KAMO’s transmission system to SWPA hydro projects offering a strong operational advantage. Similarly, GRDA supplied power to KAMO in Oklahoma, where close access to its hydropower resources created a natural partnership.

During these formative years, the abundance of hydropower made purchasing from this power source more practical than building new facilities. As KAMO’s power needs grew, the cooperative joined with five other G&T organizations to form a new generation and transmission entity—Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI). KAMO shifted its Missouri power supply from SWPA to AECI in 1961.

KAMO continued its long-standing Oklahoma power supply arrangement with GRDA. In 1984, KAMO and GRDA entered a joint ownership agreement for a new 520 MW coalfired generating plant, maintaining ownership and receiving power from the facility until KAMO sold its share to GRDA in 2017.

In 1998, KAMO’s arrangement with AECI expanded to provide power for both its Missouri and Oklahoma service requirements.

The generation portfolio that AECI provides for the six member G&T’s is a mixture of natural gas, coal, hydropower, wind, solar and liquid fuel.  The assets are spread across Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.  This diversity helps ensure that KAMO and its member distribution cooperatives have an economic and reliable power supply.