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About Hydropower

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Hydropower is fueled by water, so it's a clean, renewable energy source that won't pollute the air like fossil fuels.

NID is a leader among northern California water agencies in the production of clean, renewable hydropower.  Operating eight hydropower plants, it generates enough electricity to supply the District's own energy needs plus that of about 66,000 homes.

NID began producing electricity in 1965 with the completion of the $65 million Yuba-Bear Power Project. The original project included the Chicago Park and Dutch Flat powerhouses and, in 1980, the Rollins and Bowman powerhouses were added. Additional small power plants were added during the 1980s at Scotts Flat and Combie reservoirs to make use of existing water releases. In 2023, the Deer Creek Project, comprised of facilities operated exclusively to meet NID's consumptive water demands, was transferred from PG&E to NID.

The District has power sales agreements that market NID's electricity to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company and the Northern California Power Agency. NID’s Hydropower operations are a huge win for customers. In addition to contributing millions in revenues from power sales to offset water rates for the customer, Hydro also covers all of the costs of upper division water storage, conveyance, delivery, maintenance, and operations from the headwaters of the Middle and South Yuba Rivers, Bear River, Canyon Creek, and Deer Creek watersheds through the District’s mid-elevation storage reservoirs of Scotts Flat, Rollins and Combie.

NID's hydropower facilities include 13 reservoirs and 38.15 miles of pipes, flumes, tunnels and open ditch canals.

NID Hydropower Plants

  • Chicago Park - 39.00 megawatts
  • Dutch Flat - 24.57 
  • Rollins - 12.15 
  • Deer Creek - 5.70
  • Bowman - 3.60 
  • Combie South - 1.50 
  • Scotts Flat - 0.875
  • Combie North - 0.50

Total: 87.90 megawatts

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