Thermalito

460 Glen Dr., Oroville, CA 95966

Plant Summary Information

Thermalito is ranked #34 out of 209 hydroelectric power plants in California in terms of total annual net electricity generation.

Thermalito is comprised of 4 generators and generated 52.7 GWh during the 3-month period between September 2025 to December 2025.

Plant Name	Thermalito
Utility Name	California Dept. of Water Resources
Location	Butte County, CA
Initial Operation Date	February 1968
Last Update	Dec 2025
Annual Generation	322.3 GWh
Annual Consumption	281.8 k MMBtu
Ranked #1,887 out of 12,613 Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #148 out of 1,331 Water Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #157 out of 1,603 California Power Plants
Ranked #34 out of 209 California Water Power Plants
Fuel Types	Water
Previous Operator	California Dept. of Water Resources (2013 to 2015) California Dept. of Water Resources (2016 to 2024)

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Summary Information
Plant Name	Thermalito (438)
Plant Address	460 Glen Dr., Oroville, CA 95966
Utility	California Dept. of Water Resources (3255)
Latitude, Longitude	39.51489, -121.63008
Generation Dates on File	Jan 2001 to Dec 2025
Initial Operation Date	February 1968
Annual Generation	322.3 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	Wtr Fr Penstocks Thermal Foreb
Ash Impoundment
Transmission / Distribution Owner	Pacific Gas & Electric Co (14328) CA
Grid Voltage	230.00 kV
Energy Storage	Yes

* Data obtained from the 2024 EIA 860 Report

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	32.6 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.95
Summer Capacity	32.6 MW
Winter Capacity	30 MW
Minimum Load	30 MW

Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	November 1968
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M

Technology	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage
Prime Mover	Pumped Storage
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	27.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.9
Summer Capacity	27.5 MW
Winter Capacity	27.3 MW
Minimum Load	27 MW

Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	February 1968
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M

Technology	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage
Prime Mover	Pumped Storage
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	27.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.9
Summer Capacity	27.5 MW
Winter Capacity	27.3 MW
Minimum Load	27 MW

Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	July 1968
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M

Technology	Hydroelectric Pumped Storage
Prime Mover	Pumped Storage
Ownership	Single Owner
Nameplate Capacity	27.5 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.9
Summer Capacity	27.5 MW
Winter Capacity	27.3 MW
Minimum Load	27 MW

Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	July 1968
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M

Owner Name	Address	Generator	Ownership
*We couldn't locate any owners for this plant*

Power plants with a similar annual net generation from Water.

Rank	Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation
#138	Smithland Hydroelectric Plant	Smithland, KY	336.3 GWh
#139	Pit 3	Burney, CA	332.8 GWh
#140	Snettisham	Juneau, AK	332.7 GWh
#141	Bliss (ID)	Bliss, ID	332.6 GWh
#142	Pine Flat	Piedra, CA	331.2 GWh
#143	Rainbow (MT)	Great Falls, MT	329.0 GWh
#144	Ralston	Foresthill, CA	328.1 GWh
#145	Chelan	Wenatchee, WA	328.0 GWh
#146	Lower Baker	Concrete, WA	326.7 GWh
#147	Curtis Palmer Hydroelectric	Corinth, NY	326.5 GWh
#149	Upper Baker	Concrete, WA	317.8 GWh
#150	Stanislaus	Vallecito, CA	315.8 GWh
#151	Ozark	Ozark, AR	314.7 GWh
#152	Judge F Carr	French Gulch, CA	312.6 GWh
#153	Camino	Camino, CA	312.1 GWh
#154	Morrow Point	Montrose, CO	309.8 GWh
#155	Martin Dam	Dadeville, AL	305.9 GWh
#156	Cabot	Montague, MA	304.2 GWh
#157	Markland	Florence, IN	298.8 GWh
#158	LaGrande	La Grande, WA	297.3 GWh

Below are closest 20 power plants surrounding Thermalito.

Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation	Distance
2127 Harris Solar Project	Live Oak, CA	1.5 GWh	15.6 mi
Ameresco Butte County	Paradise, CA	16.8 GWh	12.2 mi
Butte College Main Campus Solar	Oroville, CA	6.3 GWh	9.2 mi
Cresta	Storrie, CA	338.1 GWh	24.5 mi
De Sabla	Magalia, CA	23.0 GWh	24.5 mi
Edward C Hyatt	Oroville, CA	2.0 TWh	7.6 mi
Enloe Medical - Chico	Chico, CA	13.3 GWh	19.6 mi
Forbestown	Forbestown, CA	128.5 GWh	18.9 mi
Forks of Butte Hydro Project	Magalia, CA	65.9 GWh	24.5 mi
Greenleaf 2 Power Plant	Yuba City, CA	36.8 GWh	26.1 mi
Gridley Main	Gridley, CA	1.6 GWh	10.2 mi
Gridley Main Two	Gridley, CA	3.4 GWh	10.2 mi
Kelly Ridge	Oroville, CA	66.5 GWh	7.5 mi
Oroville Cogeneration LP	Oroville, CA	672.3 MWh	3.9 mi
Poe	Storrie, CA	361.2 GWh	16.7 mi
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co Hybrid	Chico, CA	9.6 GWh	17.5 mi
Thermalito Diverson Dam	Oroville, CA	19.2 GWh	4.6 mi
Woodleaf	Forbestown, CA	193.8 GWh	22.9 mi
Yuba City Cogen Partners	Yuba City, CA	22.9 GWh	26.1 mi
Yuba City Energy Center	Yuba City, CA	39.1 GWh	26 mi