Best Hydroelectric Power Plant Palmdale Near Me

4worldlovers: Once the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed in 1913, it became possible to harness the newly delivered water and use it to generate electricity.

On March 18, 1917 the San Francisquito Power Plant No. 1, Unit 1 was placed in service and energy was delivered to Los Angeles over a newly constructed 115 kV transmission line. The 200 kilowatts generated by Unit 1 were the first commercial kilowatts generated by the Los Angeles Bureau of Power and Light. Subsequently, on April 16 and April 28, 1917, Units 2 and 3 respectively were placed in operation. This was the Los Angeles Bureau of Power and Light's first step in becoming an independent electricity provider.

When opened, Power Plant No. 1 would provide over 70% of the power needs of Los Angeles. The plant is still in operation today, but only delivers a small fraction (0.5%) of LA's power needs.


In 1909 the Bureau of Los Angeles Aqueduct Power was created to build hydroelectric power plants along the Los Angeles Aqueduct. When Los Angeles acquired water rights in the Owens Valley section of Inyo County to construct the LA Aqueduct, it also obtained water-power sites along the way.

Ezra F. Scattergood was selected as the Bureau’s first chief electrical engineer. Scattergood led the way in the development of hydroelectric power along the route of the aqueduct and became Mulholland’s counterpart for the Power System.


The aqueduct system was extensively developed to take advantage of the drop in elevation as water descends from the High Sierras to Los Angeles. Up to 14 hydroelectric power plants were built along the Los Angeles Aqueduct. In 1908, the Division Creek Power Plant in Owens Valley became the first hydro-electric power plant to be constructed. It, along with the Cottonwood Power Plant, were built for the purpose of constructing the aqueduct. This was the first time electric energy had been used in such a construction project.

Water flows entirely by gravity from an elevation of 3,760 ft at the Haiwee Reservoir to an elevation of 1,200 ft at the Upper Van Norman Reservoir.

(ca. 1916)* - William Mulholland and Commissioner Del Valle in an 80" pipe at Power Plant 1 construction.

(n.d.)** - The Pelton wheel used at Power Plant No. 1 as it appeared on display.


It extracted energy from the impulse of moving water, as opposed to its weight like a traditional overshot water wheel.

On March 18, 1917 the San Francisquito Power Plant No. 1, Unit 1 was placed in service and energy was delivered to Los Angeles over a newly constructed 115 kV transmission line. The 200 kilowatts generated by Unit 1 were the first commercial kilowatts generated by the Los Angeles Bureau of Power and Light (Click HERE to see more in Early Power Transmission).

Subsequently on April 28 and April 16, 1917, Units 2 and 3 respectively were placed in operation.


The LA Bureau of Power and Light now had a source of low cost electricity and more than enough power to meet the City's needs. It would sell its excess San Francisquito generated power to Pasadena over two newly constructed 34 kV lines between the two cities. By 1917, World War I had forced the price of fuel oil to rise making the new lower cost hydroelectric power extremely desirable.^

(1928)* - Power Plant No. 2 prior to the St. Francis Dam failure on March 12, 1928.

This station is about 1.3 miles downstream from where the St. Francis Dam stood. The building is 60 feet tall, but was destroyed by a wall of water that was 120 feet high. This photo was taken shortly before the St. Francis Dam failed.^


Power Plant No. 2 was completely destroyed by the flood that swept through the canyon after the St. Francis Dam failed on March 12, 1928. You can clearly see how the hillside in the background has been stripped of all vegetation by the water, which came over the top of the hill upstream of the powerhouse.


Click HERE to read see more in the St. Francis Dam Disaster

Power Plant No. 2 was completely restored and back in service by November 1928, just 8 short months after the original plant was destroyed in the St. Francis Dam Disaster.

4worldlovers: Since 1918, Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. We strive for excellence in providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency.

Please continue to use water wisely and conserve water use indoors and outdoors.

Read the most recent press releases to stay informed about what’s happening at PWD.

All emergency drought regulations adopted the past two years by the Palmdale Water District (PWD) are no longer in effect.

PWD AWARDED $5 MILLION GRANT TO CONVERT PALMDALE DITCH & REDUCE WATER LOSS

4worldlovers: In 1959, AVEK received its charter as a regional water Agency from the State Legislature, an event that followed the 1953 formation of the Antelope Valley-Feather River Association. The concept was to import surface water supplies from the Feather River.

"The mission of AVEK is to deliver reliable, sustainable and high quality supplemental water to the region in a cost-effective and efficient manner"

AVEK is committed to providing a clean, safe water supply to its customers that meets or exceeds all State and Federal requirements.

Building a reliable, sustainable, high quality water supply for the future