5th largest plant in California · 131st nationally
Castaic is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 1,682 MW. It generates roughly 136.3k MWh per year — enough to power about 12,984 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 1% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Castaic |
|---|---|
| Operator | Los Angeles Department Of Water & Power |
| City | Castaic |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 91384 |
| Coordinates | 34.58724, -118.65664 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1973 |
| 2 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1974 |
| 3 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1976 |
| 4 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1977 |
| 5 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1977 |
| 6 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 271 MW | Operating | 1978 |
| 7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 56.0 MW | Operating | 1972 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power |
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.