# Pio Pico Energy Center

CAISO Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/pio-pico-energy-center

Pio Pico Energy Center is a natural gas-fired power facility with 395.4 MW of EIA-reported nameplate capacity in San Diego County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 57555. J. P. Pio Pico Energy Center LLC is the registered plant entity or operator. Institutional investors advised by J. P. Morgan Asset Management acquired the project from A fund managed by Ares EIF Group in 2016.

## Key facts

- Technology: Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine
- Power capacity: 395.40000000000003 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: CISO (CAISO)
- Substation: Otay Mesa Switchyard
- Point of interconnection: Otay Mesa Switchyard
- Transmission owner: San Diego Gas and Electric
- Interconnection voltage: 230 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Identifiers: [{"value":"57555","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"CTG1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG2","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG3","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"574","system":"CAISO interconnection queue ID"},{"value":"11-AFC-01","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"ER16-711, sub-docket 008","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"APCD2010-SITE-00471","system":"San Diego County APCD site record ID"},{"value":"APCD2018-APP-005536","system":"San Diego County APCD application ID"}] — Resource category and phase · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"57555","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"CTG1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG2","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG3","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"574","system":"CAISO interconnection queue ID"},{"value":"11-AFC-01","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"ER16-711, sub-docket 008","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"APCD2010-SITE-00471","system":"San Diego County APCD site record ID"},{"value":"APCD2018-APP-005536","system":"San Diego County APCD application ID"}] — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"57555","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"CTG1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG2","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG3","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"574","system":"CAISO interconnection queue ID"},{"value":"11-AFC-01","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"ER16-711, sub-docket 008","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"APCD2010-SITE-00471","system":"San Diego County APCD site record ID"},{"value":"APCD2018-APP-005536","system":"San Diego County APCD application ID"}] — eLibrary | Docket Search Results · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"57555","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"CTG1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CTG3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG2","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG3","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"574","system":"CAISO interconnection queue ID"},{"value":"11-AFC-01","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"ER16-711, sub-docket 008","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"APCD2010-SITE-00471","system":"San Diego County APCD site record ID"},{"value":"APCD2018-APP-005536","system":"San Diego County APCD application ID"}] — Source · confidence: medium
- Official project url: https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Description: Pio Pico Energy Center is an operating natural-gas-fired simple-cycle power plant in San Diego County at 7363 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, California. The California Energy Commission identifies the certified project as a 300 MW facility with three GE LMS100 combustion turbine generators, commissioned in October 2016. EIA-linked plant records identify the facility as plant 57555 with 395.4 MW of total nameplate capacity and three generating units. — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Description: Pio Pico Energy Center is an operating natural-gas-fired simple-cycle power plant in San Diego County at 7363 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, California. The California Energy Commission identifies the certified project as a 300 MW facility with three GE LMS100 combustion turbine generators, commissioned in October 2016. EIA-linked plant records identify the facility as plant 57555 with 395.4 MW of total nameplate capacity and three generating units. — Source · confidence: medium
- Canonical name: Pio Pico Energy Center — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Identifiers.4: {"value":"CTG3","system":"EIA generator ID"} — MBR | Index - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.5: {"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"} — Curtailed and Non-Operational Generator AM Report Nov... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.6: {"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG2","system":"CAISO market resource ID"} — Curtailed and Non-Operational Generator AM Report Nov... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.7: {"value":"PIOPIC_2_CTG3","system":"CAISO market resource ID"} — Curtailed and Non-Operational Generator AM Report Nov... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.9: {"value":"11-AFC-01","system":"California Energy Commission docket"} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Identifiers.10: {"value":"ER16-711, sub-docket 008","system":"FERC docket"} — eLibrary | Docket Search Results · confidence: high
- Identifiers.11: {"value":"APCD2010-SITE-00471","system":"San Diego County APCD site record ID"} — Source · confidence: high
- Identifiers.12: {"value":"APCD2018-APP-005536","system":"San Diego County APCD application ID"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.2: {"relationship":"Original developer, financier, and constructor","name":"Ares EIF Group","official_url":"https://www.aresmgmt.com/"} — Akin Advises Purchaser of California Gas-Fired Power Project | Akin · confidence: high
- Parties.3: {"relationship":"Reported project developer","name":"Apex Power Group","official_url":null} — Power plant profile: Pio Pico Energy Center, US · confidence: medium
- Parties.4: {"relationship":"Equipment OEM for the LMS100 turbines","name":"General Electric / GE Vernova","official_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100"} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.4: {"relationship":"Equipment OEM for the LMS100 turbines","name":"General Electric / GE Vernova","official_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100"} — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova · confidence: high
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Power purchaser and tolling counterparty","name":"San Diego Gas & Electric","official_url":"https://www.sdge.com/"} — Akin Advises Purchaser of California Gas-Fired Power Project | Akin · confidence: high
- Parties.6: {"relationship":"Acquisition purchaser's advised investment group","name":"J.P. Morgan Asset Management","official_url":"https://www.jpmorgan.com/"} — Ares EIF Group to sell Pio Pico Energy Center - PE Hub · confidence: high
- Parties.7: {"relationship":"Former operator and 2018 operational-control transferee","name":"Southwest Generation Operating Company, LLC","official_url":null} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.8: {"relationship":"Former operator","name":"NAES Corporation","official_url":"https://www.naes.com/"} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.9: {"relationship":"Certifying authority","name":"California Energy Commission","official_url":"https://www.energy.ca.gov/"} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.10: {"relationship":"Air permitting authority","name":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District","official_url":"https://www.sdapcd.org/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Interconnection: 230 kV Otay Mesa 13 switchyard — Testimony · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Operating natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility on a 10-acre site, consisting of three GE LMS100 combustion turbine generators. The project is described by the CEC as 300 MW, while the air-district startup authorization identifies three installed LMS100 PA units, each rated at 106.4 MW, with evaporative inlet-air cooling, compressor intercooling, and shared partial dry cooling. — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100 — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Kind: thermal — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Manufacturer domain: gevernova.com — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Equipment models: [{"manufacturer_domain":"gevernova.com","product_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100","count":3,"unit_mw":106.4,"name":"General Electric GE LMS100 PA combustion turbine generator"}] — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Product family: LMS100 PA — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer name: General Electric — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["Capacity figures differ by source: the EIA-linked plant record lists 395.4 MW, while the CEC certified-project page lists 300 MW and three 100-MW turbines.","The disclosed financing record identifies a private-placement financing but does not state a project-level amount or named lenders; the separately reported $621.8 million figure relates to an Ares energy-fund raise, not identified sale consideration for Pio Pico.","CEC records describe 2015 water-system modifications and a 2016 nominal 10% increase in hourly heat input; these are permit amendments rather than evidence of a new generating unit or a repowering.","The CEC project page lists the facility as operational, and the cited project history contains no recorded retirement or repowering milestone."] — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["Capacity figures differ by source: the EIA-linked plant record lists 395.4 MW, while the CEC certified-project page lists 300 MW and three 100-MW turbines.","The disclosed financing record identifies a private-placement financing but does not state a project-level amount or named lenders; the separately reported $621.8 million figure relates to an Ares energy-fund raise, not identified sale consideration for Pio Pico.","CEC records describe 2015 water-system modifications and a 2016 nominal 10% increase in hourly heat input; these are permit amendments rather than evidence of a new generating unit or a repowering.","The CEC project page lists the facility as operational, and the cited project history contains no recorded retirement or repowering milestone."] — Ares sells 322MW gas plant to undisclosed investors · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["Capacity figures differ by source: the EIA-linked plant record lists 395.4 MW, while the CEC certified-project page lists 300 MW and three 100-MW turbines.","The disclosed financing record identifies a private-placement financing but does not state a project-level amount or named lenders; the separately reported $621.8 million figure relates to an Ares energy-fund raise, not identified sale consideration for Pio Pico.","CEC records describe 2015 water-system modifications and a 2016 nominal 10% increase in hourly heat input; these are permit amendments rather than evidence of a new generating unit or a repowering.","The CEC project page lists the facility as operational, and the cited project history contains no recorded retirement or repowering milestone."] — Source · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: A private-placement financing for Pio Pico was reported in April 2015 after a prolonged regulatory process, and Ares EIF Group was identified as the developer, financier, and constructor. Disclosed transaction reports do not state the project-level financing amount, debt/equity structure, named lenders, or acquisition consideration. A separately reported $621.8 million amount was raised for Ares's fifth energy fund and should not be treated as Pio Pico project financing or sale consideration. — Pio Pico makes it to finish line | PFI · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: A private-placement financing for Pio Pico was reported in April 2015 after a prolonged regulatory process, and Ares EIF Group was identified as the developer, financier, and constructor. Disclosed transaction reports do not state the project-level financing amount, debt/equity structure, named lenders, or acquisition consideration. A separately reported $621.8 million amount was raised for Ares's fifth energy fund and should not be treated as Pio Pico project financing or sale consideration. — Akin Advises Purchaser of California Gas-Fired Power Project | Akin · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: A private-placement financing for Pio Pico was reported in April 2015 after a prolonged regulatory process, and Ares EIF Group was identified as the developer, financier, and constructor. Disclosed transaction reports do not state the project-level financing amount, debt/equity structure, named lenders, or acquisition consideration. A separately reported $621.8 million amount was raised for Ares's fifth energy fund and should not be treated as Pio Pico project financing or sale consideration. — Ares sells 322MW gas plant to undisclosed investors · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — SDG&E's Authority to Enter into Purchase Power Tolling... · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Pio Pico makes it to finish line | PFI · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Source · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Pio Pico Energy Center Title V App. Number · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Akin Advises Purchaser of California Gas-Fired Power Project | Akin · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."},{"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."},{"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."},{"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."},{"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."},{"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."},{"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."},{"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-11","detail":"Contemporary transaction coverage stated that the 322-MW simple-cycle facility began commercial operations in November 2016."},{"event":"Acquisition","date":"2016-12","detail":"A group of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management acquired a 100% interest in Pio Pico Energy Center from a fund managed by the Ares EIF Group. The sale was announced on December 13, 2016; acquisition consideration was not disclosed."},{"event":"Operational-control transfer","date":"2018-10-05","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC."},{"event":"Retirement or repowering status","date":null,"detail":"The cited CEC project history lists Pio Pico as operational and records permit amendments and an operational-control transfer, but no retirement or repowering milestone."}] — Ares EIF Group to sell Pio Pico Energy Center - PE Hub · confidence: medium
- Timeline.0: {"event":"Tolling-agreement procurement","date":"2011-05-19","detail":"San Diego Gas & Electric filed an application seeking authority to enter into purchase-power tolling agreements involving Pio Pico Energy Center."} — SDG&E's Authority to Enter into Purchase Power Tolling... · confidence: high
- Timeline.1: {"event":"CEC certification","date":"2012-09-12","detail":"The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01."} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.2: {"event":"Private-placement financing","date":"2015-04-16","detail":"PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report."} — Pio Pico makes it to finish line | PFI · confidence: medium
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Water-system amendment petition","date":"2015-07-31","detail":"Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers."} — Source · confidence: high
- Timeline.4: {"event":"Water-system amendment approval","date":"2015-12-09","detail":"CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete."} — Source · confidence: medium
- Timeline.5: {"event":"Hourly heat-input amendment","date":"2016-02-17","detail":"The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines."} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.6: {"event":"Construction completion","date":"2016-07","detail":"San Diego County Air Pollution Control District records state that construction was completed in July 2016."} — Pio Pico Energy Center Title V App. Number · confidence: high
- Timeline.7: {"event":"CEC operating date","date":"2016-10-20","detail":"The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016."} — Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high

## Timeline

- 2012-09-12 — CEC certification
  The California Energy Commission certified the 300-MW Pio Pico Energy Center project under docket 11-AFC-01.
  Source: Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center)
- 2015-04-16 — Private-placement financing
  PFI reported that the project's private-placement financing had taken years to close while working through regulatory hurdles; no amount or lender group was disclosed in the available report.
  Source: Pio Pico makes it to finish line | PFI (https://www.pfie.com/pfi-reports/1490147/pio-pico-makes-it-to-finish-line)
- 2015-07-31 — Water-system amendment petition
  Pio Pico Energy Center LLC petitioned to increase raw-water, wastewater, and final-wastewater storage capacities, modify the water-treatment building, and replace the approved reaction tank with two clarifiers.
  Source: Source (https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=206910&DocumentContentId=4839)
- 2015-12-09 — Water-system amendment approval
  CEC staff issued a notice approving the proposed water-storage and water-treatment modifications; the project was then approximately 35% complete.
  Source: Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center)
- 2016-02-17 — Hourly heat-input amendment
  The CEC approved a nominal approximately 10% increase in hourly heat input to the gas turbines.
  Source: Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center)
- 2016-10-20 — CEC operating date
  The CEC project page records the facility as beginning operation on October 20, 2016.
  Source: Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center)
- 2018-10-05 — Operational-control transfer
  The CEC approved transfer of operational control from NAES Corporation to Southwest Generation Operating Company LLC.
  Source: Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center)

## Sources

- [Resource category and phase](https://www.caiso.com/documents/resourcecategoryandphaseallparticipatingresourceids.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Pio Pico Energy Center | California Energy Commission](https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [eLibrary | Docket Search Results](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/docketsheet?docket_number=ER16-711&sub_docket=008&dt_from=1960-01-01&dt_to=2023-09-15&chklegadata=false&pageNm=dsearch&date_range=custom&search_type=docket&date_type=filed_date&sub_docket_q=Allsub) — elibrary.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [Pio Pico Energy Center – SDAPCD Engineering Evaluation of the Project](https://www.sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdapcd/documents/permits/public-notices/Pio-Pico-APCD-2018-APP-005536-Engineering-Evaluation.pdf) — sdapcd.org · tier other
- [Akin Advises Purchaser of California Gas-Fired Power Project | Akin](https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-gump-advises-purchaser-of-california-gas-fired-power) — akingump.com · tier other
- [Power plant profile: Pio Pico Energy Center, US](https://www.power-technology.com/data-insights/power-plant-profile-pio-pico-energy-center-us/) — power-technology.com · tier other
- [Ares EIF Group to sell Pio Pico Energy Center - PE Hub](https://www.pehub.com/ares-eif-group-to-sell/) — pehub.com · tier other
- [MBR | Index - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/SearchlkpEIA/Index?page=424) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [Curtailed and Non-Operational Generator AM Report Nov ...](https://www.caiso.com/documents/curtailed-non-operational-generator-am-report-20191127.html) — caiso.com · tier other
- [LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine | GE Vernova](https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100) — gevernova.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sdge.com/sites/default/files/Testimony_2.pdf) — sdge.com · tier other
- [Source](https://energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/pio-pico-energy-center) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdapcd/documents/permits/public-notices/Pio-Pico-APCD-2018-APP-005536-Engineering-Evaluation.pdf) — sdapcd.org · tier other
- [Ares sells 322MW gas plant to undisclosed investors](https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/ares-sells-322mw-gas-plant-to-undisclosed-investors/) — infrastructureinvestor.com · tier other
- [Pio Pico makes it to finish line | PFI](https://www.pfie.com/pfi-reports/1490147/pio-pico-makes-it-to-finish-line) — pfie.com · tier other
- [SDG&E’s Authority to Enter into Purchase Power Tolling Agreements with Escondido Energy Center, Pio Pico Energy Center and Quail Brush Power | San Diego Gas & Electric](https://www.sdge.com/node/466) — sdge.com · tier other
- [Source](https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=206910&DocumentContentId=4839) — efiling.energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Pio Pico Energy Center Title V App. Number](https://www.sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdapcd/documents/permits/public-notices/Pio-Pico-APP005036-Statement-of-Basis.pdf) — sdapcd.org · tier other
- [Source](https://www.caiso.com/documents/appendix-j-board-approved-2024-2025-transmission-plan.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other

## Data quality

- Capacity figures differ by source: the EIA-linked plant record lists 395.4 MW, while the CEC certified-project page lists 300 MW and three 100-MW turbines. The disclosed financing record identifies a private-placement financing but does not state a project-level amount or named lenders; the separately reported $621.8 million figure relates to an Ares energy-fund raise, not identified sale consideration for Pio Pico. The CEC project page lists the facility as operational, and the cited project history contains no recorded retirement or repowering milestone.

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Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/pio-pico-energy-center

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