PG&E sells 12-MW Narrows No. 1 powerhouse to Yuba Water Agency

PG&E sells 12-MW Narrows No. 1 powerhouse to Yuba Water Agency

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has sold its 12-MW Narrows No. 1 powerhouse to Yuba Water Agency (YWA).

The sale was finalized yesterday in Nevada County and includes the powerhouse, on the Yuba River below Englebright Dam, along with associated water conveyance and infrastructure and 23 acres of land.

PG&E sold the powerhouse because it was marginally economic and far from PG&E’s hydropower headquarters.

Both parties reached the agreement in September 2018, after a year of negotiation, with a final price of $507,500.

YWA is a California-based company that aids in flood risk reduction, water supply reliability, fish habitat protection and enhancement and hydroelectric generation.

YWA also owns the 55-MW Narrows No. 2 Powerhouse upstream. The two have coordinated the operations of the Narrows facilities in the past.

YWA’s acquisition of the Narrows facilities enables the agency to continue to provide reliable flows for salmon and steelhead in the lower Yuba River.

“We appreciate the partnership we’ve had with PG&E,” said Curt Aikens, general manager of YWA. “Our acquisition of the Narrows 1 facility really complements our other hydropower assets, but most of all, it enables our agency to continue to provide reliable flows for salmon and steelhead in the lower Yuba River.”

YWA also owns the Yuba River Project, which consists of the New Colgate, New Bullards Bar Minimum Flow and Narrows 2 developments. It is located on the Yuba River, North Yuba River, Middle Yuba River and Oregon Creek in Yuba, Sierra and Nevada counties.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and California Public Utilities Commission have approved the sale due to PG&E’s recent bankruptcy, as a result, PG&E employees will not be financially impacted.