292nd largest plant in California · 2715th nationally
Big Creek 1 is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 88.4 MW. It generates roughly 393.8k MWh per year — enough to power about 37,504 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 51% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Big Creek 1 |
|---|---|
| Operator | Southern California Edison Co |
| City | Big Creek |
| County | Fresno County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 93605 |
| Coordinates | 37.20420, -119.23960 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 31.2 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 21.6 MW | Operating | 1923 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 19.8 MW | Operating | 1913 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 15.8 MW | Operating | 1913 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | California Independent System Operator |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.