Sand Bar Power Plant — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 50400
- Capacity
- 16.2 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Hydro
- Technology
- Conventional Hydroelectric
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- Tuolumne, CA
- Operating Since
- 1986
- Generators
- 1
- Operator
- Tri-Dam Power Authority
- Parent Company
- —
- Annual Generation
- 85,476 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 59.9%
- Balancing Authority
- California Independent System Operator
- ISO/RTO
- CAISO
- NERC Region
- WECC
Sand Bar Power Plant
OperatingHydro
Ranked #99 of 247 Hydro plants in CA#522 of 1454 nationally
16.2 MW Hydro operating in Tuolumne, CA — California Independent System Operator
EIAWD
16.2 MW
Nameplate Capacity
1
Generators
unit
Conventional Hydroelectric
Technology
1986
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
39.8327, -97.6320
County
Tuolumne, CA
Nearby Plants
- BellevilleNatural Gas17.3 MW · 0.0 km
- High Banks WindWind643.4 MW · 17.3 km
- Deshler SolarSolar1 MW · 29.0 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Tri-Dam Power Authority | — | — |
| Owner(s) | Tri-Dam Power Authority | — | — |
| Status | Operating | — | — |
Ownership Chain
No GEM tracker match for this plant — ownership chain unavailable.
About
The Sand Bar Power Plant is a 16.2 MW conventional hydroelectric facility located in Tuolumne County, California. The plant began operating in 1986 and is owned and operated by Tri-Dam Power Authority. It consists of a single generator and utilizes water (WAT) as its primary fuel source. The plant operates within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region.
In the most recent year with available data, Sand Bar Power Plant generated 85,476 MWh of electricity, achieving a capacity factor of 59.9%. The plant is ranked 99 out of 247 power plants in California and 531 out of 1464 nationally. Recent news coverage of the plant has focused on industry trends, hazards, and regulatory matters.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
California Independent System Operator
Grid Voltage
115 kV
Regulatory Status
NR
Entity Type
Political Subdivision
Sector
IPP Non-CHP
Generation
7.7K MWh
Latest Month
85.5K MWh
Annual Generation
59.9%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2022 – Dec 2024
Financial Data
No financial data available for this plant.
Pricing & Market Data
MEDIUM confidenceMarket Position
ISO/RTO Market
CAISO
LMP Node
—
Pricing Hub
TH_NP15_GEN-APND
Node Source
Shared substation inference
SPRNGGP_7_B1Nearby ISO Node
News & Articles (10)Beta
Regulatory·permitting
Diablo Canyon Clears Hurdle to Stay Open Until at Least 2030
The California Coastal Commission approves permit allowing state's last nuclear power plant to continue operating past its 2025 shutdown...
Diablo Canyon (operator)California Coastal Commission (regulator)
The Santa Barbara Independent·3 months ago
Hazards·flooding
Low water makes fall travel on the Mackenzie River hazardous for hunters
Years of drought have turned Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́'s boat launch into a sandbar, cutting off hunters from their usual access. Hunters say the low...
CBC·5 months ago
Industry·corporate
Food Lab + The Landing Debut at Revamped Power Plant (with Wine Bar!?)
The soft-shell crab “sando” with crispy cornmeal-coated crab, toasted brioche, arugula, house remoulade and fire garlic-parsley fries is a...
Edible Monterey Bay·5 months ago
General
Pyramid Lake Recreation
Updated August 31, 2025: Yellowbar boat-in picnic area will remain closed until Summer 2027 due to Post Fire damage repairs. Invasive golden mussels have...
California Department of Water Resources (.gov)·6 months ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles