# J S Eastwood

CAISO Hydroelectric Pumped Storage · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/j-s-eastwood

J S Eastwood is a battery energy storage facility with 199.8 MW of EIA-reported operating capacity in Fresno County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 104. Southern California Edison Co owns and operates the plant. Eastwood functions as a rechargeable battery for the electric grid: Southern California Edison reports approximately 200 MW of output, enough to serve about 140,000 homes, and describes it as one of only a handful of similar hydroelectric plants in California.

## Key facts

- Technology: Hydroelectric Pumped Storage
- Power capacity: 199.8 MW
- Operating status: operating
- Retirement: 2025

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: CISO (CAISO)
- Substation: Eastwood
- Point of interconnection: Eastwood
- Transmission owner: Southern California Edison Company
- Interconnection voltage: 13.8 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Owner logo domain: sce.com — Welcome to SCE · confidence: high
- Identifiers: [{"value":"104","system":"EIA plant"},{"value":"1","system":"EIA generator"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"P-67","system":"FERC project/docket"}] — eLibrary | Document Information · confidence: medium
- Description: J S Eastwood is an operational hydroelectric pumped-storage plant in Fresno County, California, with one 199.8 MW generating unit that entered service on December 1, 1987. It is part of Southern California Edison’s Big Creek Hydroelectric System and uses Balsam Meadows Forebay and Shaver Lake for pumped-storage operation. The plant is owned and operated by Southern California Edison Company. — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: medium
- Parties: [{"relationship":"Owner and operator","name":"Southern California Edison Company","official_url":"https://www.sce.com/"}] — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: high
- Parties: [{"relationship":"Owner and operator","name":"Southern California Edison Company","official_url":"https://www.sce.com/"}] — eLibrary | Document Information · confidence: high
- Identifiers.3: {"value":"P-67","system":"FERC project/docket"} — eLibrary | Document Information · confidence: high
- Parties.0: {"relationship":"Owner and operator","name":"Southern California Edison Company","official_url":"https://www.sce.com/"} — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: high
- Interconnection: Eastwood Power Station (EPS) switchyard to the Big Creek Powerhouse No. 1 switchyard via the Eastwood–Big Creek No. 1 Transmission Line. — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Unit count: 1 — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: high
- Construction scope: Eastwood facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and comprise one Balsam Creek dam, two water conveyances, a surge chamber, one underground Eastwood Powerhouse containing one generating unit, a tailrace tunnel, and a transmission line. The powerhouse contains one reversible Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump and one direct-coupled generator/motor; the filing also describes two 240-V station-service generators with a combined 350-kW rating. The underground cavern is approximately 184 feet long and 80 feet high. The installed generating unit is rated at 199.8 MW. — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Eastwood facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and comprise one Balsam Creek dam, two water conveyances, a surge chamber, one underground Eastwood Powerhouse containing one generating unit, a tailrace tunnel, and a transmission line. The powerhouse contains one reversible Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump and one direct-coupled generator/motor; the filing also describes two 240-V station-service generators with a combined 350-kW rating. The underground cavern is approximately 184 feet long and 80 feet high. The installed generating unit is rated at 199.8 MW. — Source · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Eastwood facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and comprise one Balsam Creek dam, two water conveyances, a surge chamber, one underground Eastwood Powerhouse containing one generating unit, a tailrace tunnel, and a transmission line. The powerhouse contains one reversible Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump and one direct-coupled generator/motor; the filing also describes two 240-V station-service generators with a combined 350-kW rating. The underground cavern is approximately 184 feet long and 80 feet high. The installed generating unit is rated at 199.8 MW. — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators — Large Hydro Generators · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer domain: gevernova.com — Large Hydro Generators · confidence: medium
- Equipment models: [{"manufacturer_domain":null,"product_url":null,"count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump"},{"manufacturer_domain":"gevernova.com","product_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators","count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"General Electric Canada vertical-shaft direct-coupled generator/motor"}] — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Equipment models: [{"manufacturer_domain":null,"product_url":null,"count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump"},{"manufacturer_domain":"gevernova.com","product_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators","count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"General Electric Canada vertical-shaft direct-coupled generator/motor"}] — Large Hydro Generators · confidence: medium
- Product family: Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump; General Electric Canada vertical-shaft direct-coupled generator/motor — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Equipment models.0: {"manufacturer_domain":null,"product_url":null,"count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump"} — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Equipment models.0: {"manufacturer_domain":null,"product_url":null,"count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"Francis-type vertical-shaft hydraulic reaction turbine/pump"} — Source · confidence: medium
- Equipment models.1: {"manufacturer_domain":"gevernova.com","product_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators","count":1,"unit_mw":199.8,"name":"General Electric Canada vertical-shaft direct-coupled generator/motor"} — Large Hydro Generators · confidence: medium
- Description: J S Eastwood is an underground hydroelectric pumped-storage plant in Fresno County, California, with one turbine/pump/generator unit and 199.8 MW of EIA nameplate capacity. It is owned and operated by Southern California Edison Company and forms part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric System under FERC Project No. 67. The Eastwood facilities include a Balsam Creek dam, water conveyances, a surge chamber, Eastwood Powerhouse, tailrace tunnel, and transmission line; water is received from Balsam Meadows Forebay and discharged to Shaver Lake. The facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and the Eastwood Power Station commenced operation on December 1, 1987. — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: medium
- Description: J S Eastwood is an underground hydroelectric pumped-storage plant in Fresno County, California, with one turbine/pump/generator unit and 199.8 MW of EIA nameplate capacity. It is owned and operated by Southern California Edison Company and forms part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric System under FERC Project No. 67. The Eastwood facilities include a Balsam Creek dam, water conveyances, a surge chamber, Eastwood Powerhouse, tailrace tunnel, and transmission line; water is received from Balsam Meadows Forebay and discharged to Shaver Lake. The facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and the Eastwood Power Station commenced operation on December 1, 1987. — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The June 1917 acquisition was a merger involving Pacific Light and Power and the predecessor Big Creek system; it predates construction of the Eastwood facilities and should not be treated as a sale of an already-built Eastwood plant.","The directory uses the EIA nameplate rating of 199.8 MW. A later SCE FERC filing gives Eastwood a dependable operating capacity of approximately 207 MW, which is a different rating basis.","SCE's disclosed approximately $14.884 million amount relates to FERC license-application development through December 2006, not sale consideration or original Eastwood construction financing.","No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering."] — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The June 1917 acquisition was a merger involving Pacific Light and Power and the predecessor Big Creek system; it predates construction of the Eastwood facilities and should not be treated as a sale of an already-built Eastwood plant.","The directory uses the EIA nameplate rating of 199.8 MW. A later SCE FERC filing gives Eastwood a dependable operating capacity of approximately 207 MW, which is a different rating basis.","SCE's disclosed approximately $14.884 million amount relates to FERC license-application development through December 2006, not sale consideration or original Eastwood construction financing.","No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering."] — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The June 1917 acquisition was a merger involving Pacific Light and Power and the predecessor Big Creek system; it predates construction of the Eastwood facilities and should not be treated as a sale of an already-built Eastwood plant.","The directory uses the EIA nameplate rating of 199.8 MW. A later SCE FERC filing gives Eastwood a dependable operating capacity of approximately 207 MW, which is a different rating basis.","SCE's disclosed approximately $14.884 million amount relates to FERC license-application development through December 2006, not sale consideration or original Eastwood construction financing.","No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering."] — Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: The cited records disclose no sale consideration or Eastwood-specific construction-debt amount. SCE's FERC application reports approximately $14.884 million incurred through December 2006 for the Project 67 FERC license application and states that SCE's financing and annual revenues were sufficient for continuing operation and maintenance; that amount is relicensing-development cost, not project acquisition value, construction financing, or sale consideration. — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.2: {"relationship":"Seller / controlling principal of predecessor owner","name":"Henry E. Huntington","detail":"Edison historical material states that Huntington sold Pacific Light and Power to SCE in 1917 and subsequently joined SCE's board. The transaction was corporate-level predecessor-system consolidation rather than a sale of the later-built Eastwood plant.","official_url":null} — Our History · confidence: medium
- Timeline.1: {"event":"Eastwood facilities constructed","date":"1983-1987","detail":"The Eastwood development was constructed between 1983 and 1987 and includes the dam, conveyances, surge chamber, powerhouse, tailrace tunnel, and transmission line."} — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: high
- Timeline.2: {"event":"Commercial operation","date":"1987-12-01","detail":"The Eastwood Power Station was placed in service and commenced operation on December 1, 1987."} — BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM · confidence: high
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Pumped-storage capability added","date":null,"detail":"SCE's account says the site began in the 1980s as a generating station for the Big Creek project and gained pumping and energy-storage capability years later; the cited account does not provide the conversion month or year."} — Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison · confidence: medium
- Timeline.4: {"event":"Project 67 relicensing application filed","date":"2007-02-21","detail":"SCE filed the new-license application for the Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project with FERC."} — Source · confidence: high
- Timeline.5: {"event":"Controls modernization","date":"2025","detail":"SCE reported that a recently installed digital system enables faster responses to grid changes. The report does not describe a generator replacement, capacity increase, retirement, or repowering."} — Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.1: The directory uses the EIA nameplate rating of 199.8 MW. A later SCE FERC filing gives Eastwood a dependable operating capacity of approximately 207 MW, which is a different rating basis. — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.2: SCE's disclosed approximately $14.884 million amount relates to FERC license-application development through December 2006, not sale consideration or original Eastwood construction financing. — Section 4.32 General Information · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.3: No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering. — Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.3: No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering. — Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board · confidence: medium
- Acquisition detail: No exact-asset acquisition of J S Eastwood was identified. Southern California Edison acquired the broader Big Creek project in 1917, but the exact Eastwood facilities were constructed between 1983 and 1987 and placed in service on December 1, 1987. — BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM · confidence: medium

## Timeline

- 1983-1987 — Eastwood facilities constructed
  The Eastwood development was constructed between 1983 and 1987 and includes the dam, conveyances, surge chamber, powerhouse, tailrace tunnel, and transmission line.
  Source: Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/big_creek/big_creek_67.shtml)
- 2025 — Controls modernization
  SCE reported that a recently installed digital system enables faster responses to grid changes. The report does not describe a generator replacement, capacity increase, retirement, or repowering.
  Source: Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison (https://energized.edison.com/stories/using-water-as-a-battery-near-shaver-lake)

## Sources

- [Welcome to SCE](https://www.sce.com/) — sce.com · tier other
- [eLibrary | Document Information](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/docinfo?accession_Number=20260727-3079) — elibrary.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [Using Water as a Battery Near Shaver Lake | Energized by Edison](https://energized.edison.com/stories/using-water-as-a-battery-near-shaver-lake) — energized.edison.com · tier other
- [Big Creek Nos. 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project | California State Water Resources Control Board](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/big_creek/big_creek_67.shtml) — waterboards.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Section 4.32 General Information](https://www.sce.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/p67bc2a8eastwood_initialstatement_and_exhibitsad_and_h.pdf) — sce.com · tier other
- [J S Eastwood P-67](https://hydroreform.org/hydro-project/j-s-eastwood-p-67/) — hydroreform.org · tier other
- [Source](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/docs/bigcreek_fercs/bigcreekcert.pdf) — waterboards.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/SupDoc/A2304003/5883/505070115.pdf) — docs.cpuc.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Large Hydro Generators](https://www.gevernova.com/hydropower/large-hydropower-solutions/generators) — gevernova.com · tier other
- [Big Creek Hydroelectric System Produces ‘Hardest Working Water in the World' | Edison International | Newsroom](https://newsroom.edison.com/stories/big-creek-hydroelectric-system-produces-hardest-working-water-in-the-world) — newsroom.edison.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sce.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/BC4_SCEPetitionforFERCDeclaratoryOrder_06172019.pdf) — sce.com · tier other
- [BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM](https://www.sce.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/2000_iip.pdf) — sce.com · tier other
- [Our History](https://www.edison.com/about-us/our-history) — edison.com · tier other
- [100 Years Young: Big Creek Hydroelectric Plant Still Going Strong | Edison International | Newsroom](https://newsroom.edison.com/stories/100-years-young:-big-creek-hydroelectric-plant-still-going-strong) — newsroom.edison.com · tier other
- [Federal Register :: Southern California Edison Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/01/2021-23660/southern-california-edison-company-notice-of-application-accepted-for-filing-and-soliciting-comments) — federalregister.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/SupDoc/A2305010/6063/508571821.pdf) — docs.cpuc.ca.gov · tier regulatory

## Data quality

- The June 1917 acquisition was a merger involving Pacific Light and Power and the predecessor Big Creek system; it predates construction of the Eastwood facilities and should not be treated as a sale of an already-built Eastwood plant. The directory uses the EIA nameplate rating of 199.8 MW. A later SCE FERC filing gives Eastwood a dependable operating capacity of approximately 207 MW, which is a different rating basis. SCE's disclosed approximately $14.884 million amount relates to FERC license-application development through December 2006, not sale consideration or original Eastwood construction financing. No retirement or repowering event is identified in the cited project history. A recently installed digital system is described as a controls modernization, not as a capacity expansion or repowering.

---

Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/j-s-eastwood

Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/