An Oklahoma agency of excellence, the Grand River Dam Authority is proud to be the state’s largest public power electric utility. Dan Sullivan, CEO, tell us more about the authority’s drive, stewardship of the land, and goals for the future.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC
Committed to the charge of being a good steward of natural resources in Oklahoma (OK), the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is dedicated to supplying ‘power for progress’ that boosts economic development and quality of life across the state.
Created by the OK Legislature in 1935 to serve as a conservation and reclamation district for the waters of the Grand River, GRDA is OK’s largest public power electric utility, fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes.
“The vision was for GRDA to build the first hydropower generation facility in OK, which was completed in 1940,” introduces Dan Sullivan, CEO.
This was the Pensacola Dam – the world’s longest, continuous multi-arch dam that stretches for a mile across the Grand River Valley to create Grand Lake and harness the power of falling water. For the past 85 years, the Pensacola Dam has been used to create renewable hydroelectricity for the state.
Currently, GRDA’s only retail service is in the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, OK, which is the third-largest industrial park in the US and hosts many industrial and manufacturing facilities, including the world’s second-largest Google data center.
With a workforce of approximately 600, the authority generates and transmits power to wholesale customers in OK, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri using 1,200 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.
“As a public power provider, we are owned by the people we serve,” insights Sullivan.
“We are not driven by a profit motive and use a cost-of-service model to provide our power at the cost it takes to generate and transmit it to the customer.”
As such, the affordability and reliability of GRDA’s vital power allows its customers to economically thrive. With electricity costs being significant for both homeowners and businesses, keeping it affordable allows companies to expand and create more jobs.
“Our municipal customers find the margin they make on electricity sales as an important source of revenue for their communities. Municipal electric systems are run by the people in their communities for the people in their communities; that local connection provides additional incentives to make sure the lights stay on,” details Sullivan.
AN AGENCY OF EXCELLENCE
Sullivan spent 23 years practising law in Tulsa, OK and served seven years in the OK House of Representatives before joining GRDA in December 2011.
“My hometown is a customer of GRDA, and my time in the legislature showed the significance of public power and how it can promote economic development,” Sullivan reflects.
“The more I learned about GRDA, the more I was interested in working with an organization that makes an important contribution to people’s daily lives.”
One of the things Sullivan appreciates about public power is how the authority looks for win-win solutions to problems.
“Coming from a legal background, that was a major paradigm shift for me. Since we are not driven by a profit motive, we look for the best solutions for our customers that provide mutual benefit,” he expands.
This allows for a refreshing pace where the authority, its customers, and partners have positive relationships of all types.
Additionally, GRDA has recently joined three other public power utilities in Nebraska to form a consortium to study advanced nuclear energy. It believes that nuclear generation is a part of the long-term strategy to meet growing customer needs and would be a great supplement to the generation portfolio that the authority currently owns.
“I am excited about the opportunity to explore this new technology with other public power utilities to prepare for the future,” enthuses Sullivan.
“Healthy relationships involve trust, and we strive to foster that atmosphere with communication. Great partnerships enable GRDA to better serve the customers relying on us to deliver the power they need for their communities and businesses”
Dan Sullivan, CEO, Grand River Dam Authority
LEADING THE WAY IN ENERGY
GRDA has prepared itself for the future by upgrading its facilities and building new generation, alongside other endeavors.
“If you’re not adapting, you’re dying as an organization,” asserts Sullivan.
The authority completed its first natural gas combined-cycle plant in 2017 with a Mitsubishi M501J, while construction is underway on a simple-cycle Mitsubishi M501JAC that will be the first of its kind in the US.
Additionally, GRDA is undergoing a major renovation of the six Salina Pumped Storage Project (SPSP) units that were completed in two phases in 1968 and 1971.
“Engineering plans are progressing to provide more efficient units that offer greater flexibility for the project to maximize the benefits of a pumped storage project in today’s Southwest Power Pool market,” informs Sullivan.
Market dynamics dictate more operational flexibility, and the authority’s partners are assisting in upgrading the units to meet such demands.
As GRDA has embarked on large projects such as refurbishing existing units and building new ones, its philosophy has been to engage partners, not vendors. Any large project has its ups and downs, and the authority seeks partners who will work with it to find solutions rather than look for scapegoats.
“We have been blessed with partners who have helped us navigate large projects and find small ways to make the effort successful,” dictates Sullivan.
“Healthy relationships involve trust, and we strive to foster that atmosphere with communication. Great partnerships enable GRDA to better serve the customers relying on us to deliver the power they need for their communities and businesses.”
“GRDA has never been afraid of the future. As the first hydropower facility in OK, we have led the way with the only pumped hydropower facility and by building a super-efficient natural gas combined-cycle unit in 2017”
Dan Sullivan, CEO, Grand River Dam Authority
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
As GRDA looks towards a further 80 years of supporting the community, generation completion and planning remain a big priority for 2026.
“GRDA has never been afraid of the future. As the first hydropower facility in OK, we have led the way with the only pumped hydropower facility and by building a super-efficient natural gas combined-cycle unit in 2017,” acclaims Sullivan.
Renewable generation resources such as hydropower have been augmented over the years with wind generation, and the authority embraces an ‘all of the above’ philosophy when it comes to generation.
“It’s also important for us to listen to our customers regarding the type of generation that they need to meet their objectives,” he details.
As GRDA brings on a new gas unit, it is also working through the renovation of its SPSP facility. Meanwhile, the authority is working with customers to plan for the future by leveraging its resources as a member of The Energy Authority (TEA) – created by public power to serve public power.
GRDA became a full member in July 2024 and is leaning on TEA resources to increase its expertise in serving customers and planning ahead.
“Increased natural gas utilization and preparing for system growth are big tasks, and our TEA membership provides resources that we would not be able to acquire on our own,” concludes Sullivan.
This company profile was produced by the editorial team at North America Outlook, a publication within the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
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