Bad Creek
Bad Creek is a pumped-storage hydro plant in Oconee County, South Carolina, operated by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. Among the 33 pumped-storage plants in the country it is the fifth-largest. It ranks fourth by nameplate capacity among South Carolina’s 215 power plants. It is the biggest of South Carolina’s 3 pumped-storage plants.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
1,680 MW
1,640 MW net summer capacity
4 operable units
- Pumped-storage hydro1,680 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1991 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
Unit 1 Pumped-storage hydro, 420 MW, 1991
Unit 2 Pumped-storage hydro, 420 MW, 1991
Unit 3 Pumped-storage hydro, 420 MW, 1991
Unit 4 Pumped-storage hydro, 420 MW, 1991
Among South Carolina’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Oconee2,667 MW
- 2Cross2,452 MW
- 3Catawba2,410 MW
- 4Bad Creekthis plant
- 5Winyah1,276 MW
- 6John S Rainey1,154 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 121st of 14,286
- Plants in the Duke Energy Carolinas balancing area
- 7th of 441
- Plants run by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
- 7th of 45
- Biggest single unit, among South Carolina’s plants
- 8th of 215
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pumped-storage hydro | 420 MW | 410 MW | 1991 | Operating |
| 2 | Pumped-storage hydro | 420 MW | 410 MW | 1991 | Operating |
| 3 | Pumped-storage hydro | 420 MW | 410 MW | 1991 | Operating |
| 4 | Pumped-storage hydro | 420 MW | 410 MW | 1991 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Duke Energy Carolinas
- Reliability region
- SERC Reliability Corporation
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 500 kV
- Water source
- Lake Jocassee - Bad Creek
- Nearest town on record
- Salem
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 35.008°N, 82.998°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jocassee | Pumped-storage hydro | 774 MW | 5.7 mi southeast |
| Tennessee Creek | Hydroelectric | 10.8 MW | 14.3 mi north |
| Keowee | Hydroelectric | 158 MW | 15.8 mi southeast |
| Oconee | Nuclear | 2,667 MW | 15.8 mi south |
| Bear Creek Dam | Hydroelectric | 9 MW | 16.8 mi north |
| Thorpe | Hydroelectric | 21.6 MW | 17.2 mi northwest |
| Cedar Cliff | Hydroelectric | 6.4 MW | 17.9 mi north |
| Tuckasegee | Hydroelectric | 3 MW | 18.1 mi northwest |