Los Esteros Critical Energy Center
Santa Clara County, California · EIA plant ID 55748 · Operator: Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility LLC
Nameplate306MWSummer 300 MW
Generators5in service
Net generation161GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor6%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate8,875Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online2003Runs as peaking
The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 158.4 | 11.0% | 10,160 |
| 2004 | 269.7 | 17.1% | 9,926 |
| 2005 | 266.6 | 16.9% | 10,143 |
| 2006 | 78.2 | 5.0% | 9,911 |
| 2007 | 65.7 | 4.2% | 10,228 |
| 2008 | 75.4 | 4.8% | 10,563 |
| 2009 | 73.7 | 4.7% | 10,101 |
| 2010 | 39.5 | 2.5% | 10,596 |
| 2011 | 66.5 | 4.2% | 10,126 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| 2013 | 297.5 | 14.6% | 8,358 |
| 2014 | 254.4 | 9.5% | 8,025 |
| 2015 | 351.6 | 13.1% | 8,356 |
| 2016 | 153.9 | 5.7% | 8,688 |
| 2017 | 225.5 | 8.4% | 8,510 |
| 2018 | 356.4 | 13.3% | 8,435 |
| 2019 | 215.6 | 8.0% | 8,463 |
| 2020 | 273.2 | 10.2% | 8,738 |
| 2021 | 303.1 | 11.3% | 8,457 |
| 2022 | 180.1 | 6.7% | 8,960 |
| 2023 | 179.5 | 6.8% | 9,064 |
| 2024 | 233.3 | 8.8% | 8,978 |
| 2025 | 156.5 | 6.0% | 8,846 |
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAG5 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CA | 126.1 | 108 | Aug 2013 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG1 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 45 | 49 | Feb 2003 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG2 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 45 | 47 | Feb 2003 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG3 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 45 | 49 | Feb 2003 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG4 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 45 | 47 | Feb 2003 | Operating | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility LLC. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility LLC | 100.0% | 306 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| AmericoldCA - Plainville, CT | 2 MW | 0.8 km |
| BD Biosciences - Milpitas, CA | 1 MW | 0.8 km |
| AT&T Holger | 1 MW | 1.4 km |
| SJ/SC WPCP | 14 MW | 1.7 km |
| Zero Waste Energy Development Co LLC | 2 MW | 2 km |
| Agnews Power Plant | 32 MW | 2.2 km |