Welcome to the South SWP Hydropower Relicensing Web Site
South SWP Hydropower, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2426 (Project) is an important component of the State Water Project (SWP). The Project provides southern California:
- Affordable Water Supply – Roughly 15 percent of southern California’s water supply flows through Project facilities. The energy required to transport water makes up the single largest cost to deliver water to southern California. The revenue from power generation through these facilities offsets the cost of delivering water to southern California, keeping water costs more affordable in the region and preserving economic vitality and quality of life for residents.
- Clean Hydropower – As part of the water delivery system, hydropower facilities are strategically located to maximize production of clean and reliable electricity.
- Hydropower that Integrates Green Energy – The operational flexibility and rapid response of the Project facilitates the integration of wind and solar into California’s renewable energy portfolio, promoting necessary stability and reliability to the grid.
- Accessible Public Recreation Opportunities – The major reservoir of the Project and surrounding recreation facilities provide valuable and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities for southern California families and visitors.
- Environmental Benefits – The Project facilities support local ecosystem health and preservation, and provide multiple benefits to southern California without incurring significant, adverse impacts to the surrounding environment.
The Project consists of two major power developments with a combined generational capacity of 1,350 megawatts (MW): the Warne Power Development and Castaic Power Development. The Warne Power Development is operated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Castaic Power Development is operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) under a Cooperative Agreement with DWR. The current license expires on January 31, 2022. DWR and LADWP are working collaboratively on relicensing.
The South SWP Hydropower Relicensing Project will obtain a new license for SWP power operations to provide safe and cost-effective operations of licensed facilities while protecting existing Project water supply, power generation, and energy storage functions and addressing Project impacts in an accountable and responsive manner.
The South SWP Hydropower Relicensing will be using FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process (ILP). This website provides information about the relicensing process, access to public documents, and details about the Project, public participation, communication plans, and meetings.