Briefing on San Francisquito 2

San Francisquito 2, an aging hydroelectric plant, faces operational challenges with declining generation and historical flood risks, despite its long operational history.

Overview

• San Francisquito 2 is an Operating conventional hydroelectric plant in California, operational since 1920.

• It has a capacity of 46 MW across 3 generators.

• The plant is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power.

Operational Performance

• The plant's annual generation is 45 GWh, with a capacity factor of 11.1%.

• Recent generation data shows 2 GWh in October 2024, 2 GWh in November 2024, and 1 GWh in December 2024.

• Generation has experienced a downward trend of 32% over the past 6 months compared to the prior 6 months.

Financial and Risk Profile

• The estimated capital expenditure for San Francisquito 2 is $2294/kW (Source: eia_agg_cost).

• The plant is located in the WECC NERC region and its balancing authority is Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

• A significant constraint and risk factor is flooding, specifically related to the historical 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster which occurred nearby, as indicated by news signals.