THE DALLES

How THE DALLES compares

With 1,820 MW of capacity, THE DALLES ranks 2nd among the 130 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Oregon and 2nd of the 58 operating Hydro plants in the state. It accounts for about 22% of Oregon's operating Hydro capacity and 12% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 7th-largest of the 1,243 operating Hydro plants in the database. Commissioned in 1957, it is older than 75% of the 128 operating Oregon plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, USACE NORTHWESTERN DIVISION, runs 13 operating plants in Oregon totaling 6,521 MW. It shares Wasco County with one other operating plant, DALLES DAM NORTH FISHWAY PROJECT.

EIA-860 lists 24 generators at the site with 1,820 MW of nameplate capacity, all conventional hydroelectric technology. Net generation was 5,431 GWh in 2024 (a 34% capacity factor), down 19% from 2022. Its generators came online between 1957 and 1973.

Grid neighborhood

The nearest named substation is SPEARFISH (115 kV), about 0.7 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 230 kV line owned by BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, under 0.1 miles away. Another 8 operating power plants totaling 2,773 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is JOHN DAY (2,160 MW, Hydro).

Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860/923 survey data; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology