Thermalito

460 Glen Dr., Oroville, CA 95966

Plant Summary Information

Thermalito is ranked #37 out of 187 hydroelectric power plants in California in terms of total annual net electricity generation.

Thermalito is comprised of 4 generators and generated 82.1 GWh during the 3-month period between December 2025 to March 2026.

Plant Name	Thermalito
Utility Name	California Dept. of Water Resources
Location	Butte County, CA
Initial Operation Date	February 1968
Last Update	Mar 2026
Annual Generation	318.7 GWh
Annual Consumption	375.7 k MMBtu
Ranked #1,913 out of 12,332 Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #151 out of 1,256 Water Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #164 out of 1,530 California Power Plants
Ranked #37 out of 187 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 Mar 2026
Initial Operation Date	February 1968
Annual Generation	318.7 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
#141	Wyman Hydro	Bingham, ME	337.1 GWh
#142	Pit 3	Burney, CA	332.8 GWh
#143	Snettisham	Juneau, AK	332.7 GWh
#144	Bliss (ID)	Bliss, ID	332.6 GWh
#145	Rainbow (MT)	Great Falls, MT	329.0 GWh
#146	Ralston	Foresthill, CA	328.1 GWh
#147	Chelan	Wenatchee, WA	328.0 GWh
#148	Lower Baker	Concrete, WA	326.7 GWh
#149	Curtis Palmer Hydroelectric	Corinth, NY	326.5 GWh
#150	Camino	Camino, CA	325.1 GWh
#152	Upper Baker	Concrete, WA	317.8 GWh
#153	Stanislaus	Vallecito, CA	315.8 GWh
#154	Ozark	Ozark, AR	314.7 GWh
#155	Morrow Point	Montrose, CO	309.8 GWh
#156	Martin Dam	Dadeville, AL	305.9 GWh
#157	Cabot	Montague, MA	304.2 GWh
#158	Moccasin	Moccasin, CA	303.6 GWh
#159	Don Pedro	La Grange, CA	301.4 GWh
#160	Markland	Florence, IN	298.8 GWh
#161	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	1.9 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	51.1 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	363.0 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