he 1960s saw advancements in transmitting and pooling electricity. Load dispatchers used the economic loading slide rule, which was the first analog computer at OUC. This helped them determine which units were the most “economical” to run during certain periods of time, based on factors like fuel cost and transmission availability.
Larger, More Efficient Lake Highland Units Come Online In 1958 — after the larger, more efficient
for peaking service. At the time of their
Lake Highland Plant went into operation and
installation, these units were the largest
the Lake Ivanhoe Plant was taken offline —
peaking gas turbines in the world.
the OUC electric system grew rapidly. In just
General Manager Curt Stanton and Plant
one year, load increased 25 percent. In fact,
Engineer Harry Luff co-authored a technical
backup generation to cover the loss of units. For that reason,
OUC was expanding so quickly that its
paper on operation and maintenance of
interconnections provided OUC the ability to connect with
engineering firm recommended installing two
these turbines, which was presented to the
other utilities and back each other up.
gas turbines, in addition to the existing steam
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
units, at the Lake Highland Plant to be used
Gas Turbine Conference in 1961.
Utilities stood on their own and had to have enough
Interconnections were established with Florida Power
Harry Luff, Curt Stanton, Ted Pope.
Corporation in Orlando and later with Florida Power & Light (FPL) on the East Coast near the new plant site on the Indian River. At 2:46 p.m. on October 15, 1963, a 230,000-volt tie between OUC and FPL was energized at the Commission’s Indian River Plant by Curt Stanton, Executive Vice President and GM of OUC, and Alan Wright, Vice President of FPL. “The energizing of this tie represents the completion of another phase of the Orlando Utilities’ overall expansion
OUC Conducts First Long-Range Planning Study As OUC’s service territory continued to
transmission lines that would loop around
expand, the utility undertook the first long-range
Orlando. All recommendations were approved
planning study of its electric system with outside
by the Commission.
engineering firm Black and Veatch to evaluate the system and establish a plan for facilitating growth.
In 1961, the high-voltage transmission loop around the Orlando area was completed —
program to strengthen and increase the capability of its
To increase system reliability, Black and
expanding system,” Stanton said. “This new tie offers a
Veatch recommended that OUC establish
interconnections with other power systems. And
further source of supply of energy in the event of power
interconnections with other power systems,
in 1964, OUC began burying power lines and
failure and increases the total tie capacity to 350,000 kW.”
select a site for a new power plant and install
replacing overhead lines with underground utilities
(Orlando Sentinel, October 16, 1963)
a new generating unit. The study also revealed
along Colonial Drive west to Texas Avenue.
placing OUC in a strong position to add more
the need for new substations and 115 kV
Indian River Plant Hailed as “Marvel of Efficiency and Modern Technology”
Living Better . . . Electrically
In 1960, a new generating plant was designed
reported to have been the largest single project
at the time: “Working to keep electricity your
and constructed in Brevard County along the Indian
money-wise in OUC history (OUC Today, Indian
B.E.S.T. value!”
River. Aptly named the Indian River Plant (IRP), this
River Anniversary Issue, Vol. XXI, No. 1, 1985).
oil- and gas-fired unit was more than twice the size
When IRP opened, local media hailed it as a
provided two strategic advantages: an unlimited
marvel of efficiency and modern technology. With
supply of cooling water for the steam condensers
a nameplate rating of 78.5 MW and the capability
and water transportation for fuel oil deliveries from
system was closed for the first time at 11:53 p.m.
to produce more than 90 MW under peak load
nearby Port Canaveral.
on February 20, 1960. One thousand people
conditions, its generators would power growth in
braved bad weather to attend the dedication of
the area — producing energy at a cost of two cents
oil via Port Canaveral — occurred four years
the new plant, located halfway between Titusville
per kilowatt hour, the lowest price in the history of
later after the completion of the 205-MW Unit 2
and Cocoa. Built at a cost of $16 million, IRP was
the utility, clearly supporting OUC Today’s slogan
at IRP.
of the largest unit at the Lake Highland Plant. The switch connecting IRP to OUC’s electric
As part of a national campaign launched by the electric industry, OUC participated in the Gold Medallion Home program, which touted the built-in advantages of “living better electrically.” Dwellings that were awarded this seal used “low-cost electricity” exclusively for “winter heat, summer cooling, year-around cooking and water-heating, as well as for light and power.”
Page 18
The plant’s location along the Indian River
Page 19
That milestone — the first barge delivery of