90th largest plant in Wisconsin · 5000th nationally
Grandfather Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Wisconsin with a nameplate capacity of 17.2 MW. It generates roughly 76.4k MWh per year — enough to power about 7,278 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 51% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Grandfather Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Wisconsin Public Service Corp |
| City | Irma |
| County | Lincoln County |
| State | Wisconsin |
| ZIP | 54442 |
| Coordinates | 45.30190, -89.79170 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 11.0 MW | Operating | 1938 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.2 MW | Operating | 1938 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.