864th largest plant in California · 6170th nationally
Chili Bar is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 8.3 MW. It generates roughly 43.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 4,142 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 60% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Chili Bar |
|---|---|
| Operator | Sacramento Municipal Util Dist |
| City | Placerville |
| County | El Dorado County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 95667 |
| Coordinates | 38.77176, -120.81324 |
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 | 8.3 MW | Operating | 1965 |
| 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.