LOWER LAKE
SubstationCalifornia · PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
At a glance
LOWER LAKE is an electric transmission substation in California, on PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY's transmission network. It is classified as sub-transmission (115 kv) and connects 2 transmission lines. Substation proximity is one of the strongest speed-to-power signals for siting a datacenter — interconnection distance to an energized, high-voltage bus is often the binding constraint on time-to-energization.
Voltage & classification
Ownership
Connected transmission lines
Lines terminating at or passing through this substation, by HIFLD line ID, highest voltage first.
| Line ID | Voltage | Owner | Status | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #305047 | 115 kV | PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY | — | 0.2 mi |
| #308204 | 115 kV | PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY | — | 12.6 mi |
Nearby datacenter candidate sites
Scored candidate sites within roughly 25 miles of LOWER LAKE, ranked by DC Readiness. Sites this close to an energized substation carry a strong speed-to-power advantage.
| Site | Type | State | County | Voltage | Capacity | Queue wait | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOCRATES 19 | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 53.3 |
| WEST FORD FLAT | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 52.9 |
| BEAR CANYON | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 52.6 |
| CORTINA | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Colusa County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 52.6 |
| QUICKSILVER | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 51.9 |
| BIG GEYSERS | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 51.9 |
| CALISTOGA 199 | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 51.9 |
| GEYSERS TAP 2 | Substation-Adjacent | CA | Sonoma County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 7.6 yrs | 51.8 |
How does LOWER LAKE compare with other substations in California?
California has 4,260 substation records in HIFLD, of which 3,003 carry a station name; the rest are unnamed tap points, risers and line ends. 697 named substations in the state are in LOWER LAKE's 115–229 kV band (23% of named stations). 428 sit in a higher band. 44 named substations in California operate at 345 kV or above. The highest voltage recorded in the state is 500 kV, and the state median is 69 kV.
Who owns the transmission lines at LOWER LAKE?
The 2 connected lines listed above are owned by PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY. Line voltages range from 115 kV to 115 kV. Their combined recorded length is about 12.8 miles.
How do candidate sites near LOWER LAKE score?
The 8 highest-scoring candidate sites within about 25 miles range from 52 to 53 on the 0–100 DC Readiness scale. They fall in Sonoma County, Colusa County. The California average across 8,490 scored sites is 45.4. 1,573 of those California sites are classed as substation sites (candidate locations generated at an existing substation).
Frequently asked questions
What voltage is LOWER LAKE substation?
LOWER LAKE has a maximum voltage of 115 kV. That places it in the 115–229 kV band. The median named US substation in this dataset is 115 kV, so LOWER LAKE is at the national midpoint.
How many transmission lines connect to LOWER LAKE substation?
2 transmission lines terminate at or pass through LOWER LAKE in the HIFLD line data. The connected lines listed here run at 115 kV. Together the listed lines cover about 12.8 miles.
Who owns LOWER LAKE substation?
HIFLD does not publish substation owners directly. Most of the transmission lines that end at LOWER LAKE belong to PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY. GridCensus derives this from the line data, so confirm ownership with the utility for anything contractual.
Where is LOWER LAKE substation located?
LOWER LAKE is in California at 38.9107, -122.6174. The datacenter candidate sites closest to it are in Sonoma County, Colusa County.
Are there datacenter candidate sites near LOWER LAKE substation?
GridCensus lists at least 8 scored candidate sites within roughly 25 miles of LOWER LAKE. The highest-scoring is SOCRATES 19 at 53/100. Across California, the average DC Readiness score is 45.4.
Other 115 kV substations in California
- SANGER· 11 lines
- COLTON (CENTURY)· 10 lines
- MANTECA· 10 lines
- EAST NICOLAUS· 9 lines
- HERNDON· 9 lines
- AMES· 8 lines
- BAYSHORE· 8 lines
- CALECTRIC· 8 lines
- All named substations in California· 3,003 stations
- Datacenter candidate sites in California· 8,490 sites
- Brownfield and retired plant sites in California
- Substations by state
About this data
Source: HIFLD Electric Substations and Transmission Lines (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), as published June 29, 2026. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: GridCensus, “LOWER LAKE substation, California”, https://gridcensus.com/substations/california/lower-lake-9517cff2 (data as of June 29, 2026).
Dataset updated . Screening estimates derived from public data sources.
Substation attributes are derived from public HIFLD / EIA infrastructure data and may lag real-world upgrades or retirements. Voltage and connected-line counts are screening figures — confirm available capacity and interconnection terms directly with the operating utility and ISO.
Go deeper than the public screen
Every site and score for LOWER LAKE substation, California is free to browse. Pro adds Watchtower on 25 sites, alerts when new candidate sites, datacenters or interconnection-queue requests appear in your markets, score and capacity history, and CSV export. Enterprise adds team seats, weekly data files for all 147,272 sites, the REST API and an MCP server for AI tools.