Data last collected:
PowerPlantFactsEvidence report · prepared 19 October 2026https://powerplantfacts.com/entity/438
EIA plant 438
Oroville · Butte · CA
Thermalito
Operated by California Dept. of Water Resources
Published location
Where is Thermalito?
This locator uses the coordinates in the approved source record. It shows geographic context, not a site boundary, safety zone or property-risk area.
39.514893, -121.630077
Open the interactive map ↗Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Capacity is not generation. Nameplate MW describes equipment; annual MWh describes recorded output. Proposed and retired units are not added to operating capacity.
Equipment mix
Operating capacity by technology
Grouped from this plant’s represented generator records. Use the CA plant index for regional peers.
See the evidence
Electricity output across the year
Monthly net generation shows the seasonal shape of this plant's represented output. A negative value is retained when the source reports net consumption.
19,996
231,849
341,785
426,160
536,481
626,207
743,677
841,605
941,609
1017,966
1112,566
128,362
MWh net generation · 2024 final edition · EIA 923 represented operating rows. 12 of 12 supplied rows shown; 0 missing values omitted. Months with no reported numeric value are omitted, not treated as zero.
Read the chart as a table
| Record | MWh net generation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 9,996 |
| 2 | 31,849 |
| 3 | 41,785 |
| 4 | 26,160 |
| 5 | 36,481 |
| 6 | 26,207 |
| 7 | 43,677 |
| 8 | 41,605 |
| 9 | 41,609 |
| 10 | 17,966 |
| 11 | 12,566 |
| 12 | 8,362 |
2024 monthly net generation
| Month | Net generation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 9,996 MWh |
| 2 | 31,849 MWh |
| 3 | 41,785 MWh |
| 4 | 26,160 MWh |
| 5 | 36,481 MWh |
| 6 | 26,207 MWh |
| 7 | 43,677 MWh |
| 8 | 41,605 MWh |
| 9 | 41,609 MWh |
| 10 | 17,966 MWh |
| 11 | 12,566 MWh |
| 12 | 8,362 MWh |
Operating generators
| ID | Technology | Fuel | MW | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | WAT | 32.6 | OP |
| 2 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | WAT | 27.5 | OP |
| 3 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | WAT | 27.5 | OP |
| 4 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | WAT | 27.5 | OP |
Continue exploring
Similar-capacity plants in the same state
Identity, technology and limitations
EIA plant ID
438
Sector
Electric Utility
Water source
Wtr Fr Penstocks Thermal Foreb
Data edition
2024-final
Use this record
Questions this evidence can answer
01What exactly is this record?
Use the name, place, date and identifiers above to confirm that you have the right Thermalito power plant: capacity and generation | PowerPlantFacts record.
02What does the evidence establish?
Read the reported values with their units, coverage dates and source notes. Keep observed facts separate from estimates or interpretation.
03What should I verify next?
Follow the primary-source links and check the limitations before using this evidence for a decision, comparison or citation.
A closer look at Thermalito
Variation in the published months
Across 12 numeric monthly generation entries, 7 has the highest recorded value (43,677 MWh) and 12 the lowest (8,362 MWh). Their difference is 35,315 MWh. Missing months have not been treated as zero.
Reading the MW column
In the 4 numeric rows displayed in this table, MW ranges from 27.5 (2, 3, 4) to 32.6 (1). The difference is 5.1 in the column's stated units. This summary covers the displayed rows and retains the table's period and scope.
Generator capacity in different operating conditions
| Generator ID | Technology | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Winter MW | Minimum load MW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | 32.6 | 32.6 | 30.0 | 30.0 |
| 2 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | 27.5 | 27.5 | 27.3 | 27.0 |
| 3 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | 27.5 | 27.5 | 27.3 | 27.0 |
| 4 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | 27.5 | 27.5 | 27.3 | 27.0 |
EIA-860 2024 final source. Ratings describe capacity, not actual generation or availability. Missing ratings are not zero.
Source: US Energy Information Administration Form EIA-860 2024 plant and operable-generator workbooks; archive 2024. US EIA-authored information is generally public domain; cite EIA, preserve third-party exceptions, changes and no-endorsement context. Source-specific derived data.