BUSINESS MEMO: RECORD PERFORMANCES

The New Madrid power plant, owned and operated by Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., set new production records in 1997.

The facility generated 7,616,773 net megawatts during the year, eclipsing the previous record of 7,314,554 megawatts established in 1981.

The record was even more significant because it was achieved after switching to low-sulfur coal, a move that typically decreases generation levels, said Larry Braun, senior performance specialist at the plant. The plant also established the lowest forced-outage rate, at 1.8 percent. The previous low was 3.2 percent.

"Each of these records is an indication of the combined effort of our employees at the New Madrid plant," said Duane Highley, plant manager.

Keeping a record amount of coal supplied to the units was a key factor in establishing the generation record. During 1997, the plant combined to burn a total of 4.5 million tons of coal. With 27 employees in the coal yard, this equals 165,000 tons of coal per employee.

Associated Electric Cooperative provides wholesale power to six regional and 42 local electric co-op systems in Missouri and Iowa. Associated's systems serve more than 552,000 homes and businesses, representing 1.5 million consumers. Effective July 1, Associated will serve nine more local electric cooperatives in Oklahoma, bringing the total to 680,000 homes and businesses, representing 1.8 million customers.