North Georgia's recent success in meeting Gov. Sonny Perdue's 10 percent water conservation order can mostly be attributed to two little-known companies.

If it weren't for two off-line hydroelectric plants in Clarke and Newton counties, operated by Fall Line Hydro Co. and Porterdale Hydroelectric, respectively, North Georgia wouldn't have achieved Perdue's order.

Overall, North Georgia water users in 61 counties had to cut back 230 million gallons a day to meet Perdue's target. Water reports for November showed they reduced by 348 million gallons a day, or about 15 percent, Perdue said.

But state records analyzed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed that more than half the reduction came because these two hydroelectric plants were not operating in November. The plants, which used an average of 218 million gallons a day last winter, did not use any water last month. If those two plants were factored out, water reduction in North Georgia would have been about 6 percent — well below Perdue's order.

A representative from Porterdale Hydroelectric said Wednesday that the plant had to shut down in November because trash in the Yellow River broke some of the company's machinery.

The company is working to fix machinery and hopes to have it running next week, company spokesman Ernie Mitivier said.

"I am glad we are helping out Georgia in the conservation effort," he said. "But this is really hurting us financially."

A representative from Fall Line Hydro said the company, which harnesses power upstream of Lake Oconee, had to shut down because the drought restrictions have made the water too shallow. He, too, said it's a financial strain.

"Just like everybody, we are hoping that it rains," said project manager Bob Davis.

Both men said it is a little misleading to say their companies withdraw water from Georgia's water basins. "I know the state has us on the list, but we don't consume water like a city or county does," Davis said. "We kind of divert the water and put it right back."

In October, Perdue ordered all public utilities and private businesses with water withdrawal permits to decrease usage by 10 percent, compared to the monthly average of December 2006 through March.