315 MW Hydro operating in Yuba, CA — California Independent System Operator
315 MW
Nameplate Capacity
2
Generators
units
Conventional Hydroelectric
Technology
1969
Operating Since
Coordinates
39.3308, -121.1917
County
Yuba, CA
Nearby Plants
Owner data does not fully agree across sources.
EIA typically reports the operating utility, while GEM resolves to the financial owner or parent corporation. Both can be correct.
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Yuba County Water Agency | Yuba Water Agency | — |
| Owner(s) | Yuba County Water Agency | Yuba Water Agency [100%] | — |
| Status | Operating | operating | — |
GEM identifies the owner as Yuba Water Agency [100%]
This entity is not yet in the GEM ownership database — chain unavailable.
The Colgate hydroelectric plant is located in Yuba County, California. The plant has a total capacity of 315 MW across two generators, and it began operating in 1969. The primary fuel source is water (WAT), and the plant utilizes conventional hydroelectric technology. The Colgate plant is owned and operated by the Yuba County Water Agency.
Colgate operates within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region. In terms of size, it ranks as the 8th largest hydroelectric plant out of 42 in California, and 68th out of 194 nationally. The plant's latest annual generation was 1,258,492 MWh, resulting in a capacity factor of 45.9%.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
California Independent System Operator
Grid Voltage
230 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Political Subdivision
Sector
Electric Utility
0 MWh
Latest Month
1.3M MWh
Annual Generation
45.9%
Capacity Factor
No financial data available for this plant.
Market Position
ISO/RTO Market
CAISO
LMP Node
COLGATE 1_7_B1
Pricing Hub
TH_NP15_GEN-APND
Node Source
EIA-860 direct report
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An aerial view of the New Colgate Powerhouse and surrounding areas Feb. 14, 2026, following the catastrophic failure of the penstock...
Penstock failure shuts down Yuba River hydropower plant
A catastrophic failure Friday afternoon of a newly constructed penstock pipe at the New Colgate Powerhouse on the north and middle forks of...
Powerhouse pipe burst may take ‘years’ to fix as Yuba County declares emergency
The extent of the damage from the penstock rupture and deluge remains unclear a week after sweeping debris and oil into the Yuba River.
New Colgate Penstock Failure - Detailed Drone Imagery and Discussion of Longer-Term Impacts
A Lookout Superfan flew their drone over the failed penstock, in Yuba County, yesterday, and sent us the imagery.
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles