860th largest plant in California · 6151st nationally
Bishop Creek 3 is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 8.4 MW. It generates roughly 26.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 2,496 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 36% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Bishop Creek 3 |
|---|---|
| Operator | Southern California Edison Co |
| City | Bishop |
| County | Inyo County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 93514 |
| Coordinates | 37.30196, -118.53196 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.8 MW | Operating | 1913 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.8 MW | Operating | 1913 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.8 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.