French Meadows
NW side of Hell Hole Reservoir, Foresthill, CA 95631Plant Summary Information
French Meadows is ranked #90 out of 207 hydroelectric power plants in California in terms of total annual net electricity generation.
French Meadows is comprised of 1 generator and generated 12.1 GWh during the 3-month period between September 2025 to December 2025.
| Plant Name | French Meadows |
|---|---|
| Utility Name | Placer County Water Agency - (CA) |
| Location | Placer County, CA |
| Initial Operation Date | October 1966 |
| Last Update | Dec 2025 |
| Annual Generation | 42.6 GWh |
| Annual Consumption | 146.7 k MMBtu |
| Ranked #4,462 out of 13,301 Power Plants Nationwide | |
| Ranked #510 out of 1,316 Water Power Plants Nationwide | |
| Ranked #518 out of 1,641 California Power Plants | |
| Ranked #90 out of 207 California Water Power Plants | |
| Fuel Types | Water |
| Previous Operator |
Placer County Water Agency (2013 to 2024) Placer County Water Agency - (CA) (2025 to 2025) |
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Monthly Net Generation for French Meadows
Monthly Plant Fuel Consumption for French Meadows
French Meadows Details
| Summary Information | |
|---|---|
| Plant Name | French Meadows (424) |
| Plant Address | NW side of Hell Hole Reservoir, Foresthill, CA 95631 |
| Utility | Placer County Water Agency - (CA) (15127) |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.07797, -120.40607 |
| Generation Dates on File | Jan 2001 to Dec 2025 |
| Initial Operation Date | October 1966 |
| Annual Generation | 42.6 GWh |
| Fuel Types | Water |
| Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Information | |
| FERC Cogeneration Status | No |
| FERC Small Power Producer Status | No |
| FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator Status | No |
| Regulatory Information | |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Regulated |
| NERC Region | WECC |
| Balancing Authority | California Independent System Operator (CISO) |
| NAICS Code | Utilities (22) |
| Sector | Electric Utility (1) |
| Water Source | Middle Fork American River |
| Ash Impoundment | |
| Transmission / Distribution Owner | Pacific Gas & Electric Co (14328) CA |
| Grid Voltage | 60.00 kV |
| Energy Storage | No |
Generator 1 Details Operating October 1966
| Technology | Conventional Hydroelectric |
|---|---|
| Prime Mover | Hydroelectric Turbine |
| Ownership | Single Owner |
| Nameplate Capacity | 15.3 MW |
| Nameplate Power Factor | 0.9 |
| Summer Capacity | 16 MW |
| Winter Capacity | 16 MW |
| Uprate/Derate Completed | No |
| Status | Operating |
|---|---|
| First Operation Date | October 1966 |
| Combined Heat & Power | No |
| Sector Name | Electric Utility (1) |
| Energy Source | Water |
| Solid Fuel Gasification | No |
| Carbon Capture Technology | No |
| Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load | 10M |
French Meadows Plant Owners
| Owner Name | Address | Ownership | We couldn't locate any owners for this plant |
|---|
Power Plants with Similar Net Generation
Power plants with a similar annual net generation from Water.
| Rank | Plant Name | Plant Location | Annual Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| #500 | Keowee | Seneca, SC | 44.3 GWh |
| #501 | Hannawa | Pierrepont, NY | 44.1 GWh |
| #502 | Fontenelle | Le Barge, WY | 43.8 GWh |
| #503 | Twin Falls (ID) | Kimberly, ID | 43.5 GWh |
| #504 | Dalles Dam North Fishway Project | The Dalles, OR | 43.4 GWh |
| #505 | Conemaugh Hydro Plant | Saltsburg, PA | 43.3 GWh |
| #506 | Grizzly | N/A, CA | 43.3 GWh |
| #507 | Dexter | Lowell, OR | 43.2 GWh |
| #508 | Falls River Hydro | Ashton, ID | 43.2 GWh |
| #509 | Beardslee | Little Falls, NY | 42.8 GWh |
| #511 | Combined Locks | Combined Locks, WI | 42.6 GWh |
| #512 | Boysen | Thermopolis, WY | 42.5 GWh |
| #513 | Upper Falls | Spokane, WA | 42.0 GWh |
| #514 | Solomon Gulch | Valdez, AK | 41.8 GWh |
| #515 | Lower No 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | 41.6 GWh |
| #516 | New York State Dam Hydro | Waterford, NY | 41.6 GWh |
| #517 | Robbs Peak | Fresh Pond, CA | 41.4 GWh |
| #518 | Tims Ford | Winchester, TN | 41.2 GWh |
| #519 | Cutler Hydro | Collinston, UT | 41.2 GWh |
| #520 | New Badger | Kaukauna, WI | 41.1 GWh |
Nearby Power Plants
Below are closest 20 power plants surrounding French Meadows.
| Plant Name | Plant Location | Annual Generation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Powerhouse | Alta, CA | 2.2 GWh | 23.3 mi |
| Camino | Camino, CA | 297.3 GWh | 18.6 mi |
| Chicago Park | Colfax, CA | 65.2 GWh | 26.9 mi |
| Deer Creek PH | Nevada City, CA | 15.2 GWh | 28 mi |
| Drum 1 | Alta, CA | 15.1 GWh | 23 mi |
| Drum 2 | Alta, CA | 164.2 GWh | 23 mi |
| Dutch Flat | Alta, CA | 66.0 GWh | 24.9 mi |
| Dutch Flat 2 | Dutch Flat, CA | 15.2 GWh | 25 mi |
| El Dorado | Pollock Pines, CA | 80.5 GWh | 22.7 mi |
| Jaybird | Camino, CA | 451.2 GWh | 18.2 mi |
| Jones Fork | Fresh Pond, CA | 14.9 GWh | 15.8 mi |
| Loon Lake | Fresh Pond, CA | 78.0 GWh | 7.9 mi |
| Middle Fork | Foresthill, CA | 483.9 GWh | 10.9 mi |
| Oxbow (CA) | Foresthill, CA | 23.2 GWh | 19 mi |
| Ralston | Foresthill, CA | 302.6 GWh | 17.9 mi |
| Robbs Peak | Fresh Pond, CA | 41.4 GWh | 12.6 mi |
| Spaulding 1 | Emigrant Gap, CA | 17.4 GWh | 21.3 mi |
| Spaulding 2 | Emigrant Gap, CA | 21.0 MWh | 21.3 mi |
| Spaulding 3 | Emigrant Gap, CA | 16.9 GWh | 21.7 mi |
| Union Valley | Fresh Pond, CA | 89.1 GWh | 14.9 mi |