Rancho Seco
DECONSMUD·Herald, CA·PWR·873 MWe
Reactor Data
Reactor Units
Every power reactor at this site as listed in the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS): reactor type and model, net electrical capacity, grid connection and commercial operation dates, and current status.
1 unit: 1 permanent shutdown.
| Unit | Type | Model | Net MWe | Construction | Grid | Commercial Op | Shutdown | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Seco | PWR | PWR | 873 | 1969-04-01 | 1974-10-13 | 1975-04-17 | 1989-06-07 | Permanent Shutdown |
Capacity, milestones and suppliers
| Unit | Design MWe | Gross MWe | Thermal MWt | First Criticality | Reactor Supplier | Turbine Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Seco | 918 | 917 | 2,772 | 1974-09-16 | BABCOCK & WILCOX CO. | WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION |
Lifetime performance, through 2025
| Unit | Electricity Supplied | Load Factor | Energy Availability | Operating Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Seco | 44.8 TWh | 39.9% | 45.5% | 46.3% |
Operator: SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT
Owner: Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), as of 2026-11-02.
Fuel Cycle Facilities
Fuel cycle plants at this site, as listed in the IAEA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities Database: what each plant does, its scale and design capacity, the years it operated, its current status and who operates it.
2 facilities: 2 in operation.
| Facility | Type | Scale | Design Capacity | Operated | Status | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Seco NPP Site | AFR Dry Spent Fuel Storage | Commercial | 190 t HM | 1989– | In Operation | |
| Rancho Seco NPP Site ISFSI | AFR Dry Spent Fuel Storage | Commercial | 202 t HM | 1989– | In Operation | Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
Source: IAEA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities Database (NFCFDB), as of 2026-10-13.
Working Here
Jobs in CA 33 active
Active nuclear industry job listings in CA from the NukeWorker job board. Click a job title for full details, or click the header to search all jobs in this state.
Per Diem Rates FY 2027
Per diem covers lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) for government and contractor travel near this facility. Rates are from GSA for FY 2027.
$156
Lodging/Night
$86
M&IE/Day
$242
Total/Day
Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA
Unemployment Benefits CA
Maximum state unemployment insurance benefits for CA. Actual benefits depend on your earnings history and may be lower than the maximum. Data as of Jan 2026.
$450
Max Weekly
26
Max Weeks
$11,700
Max Total
7-day waiting period before benefits begin
Photos
Photos of this facility from the NukeWorker photo gallery. Click the header or any photo to browse the full album.
Facility Map
Interactive satellite map showing the facility's geographic location. Marker color indicates current status: green for online, red for offline, orange for reduced power. Click the header to open in Google Maps satellite view.
38.3451, -121.122
Location & Contact
Physical address, phone number, and website for this facility. Use the directions link to get driving directions via Google Maps.
Phone:
(916) 452-3211
Website:
http://www.smud.org/
Plant Facts
About This Site
Written by NukeWorker from public records: facts that do not change. Operator, status and capacity come from the live data elsewhere on this page. Sources: Wikipedia: Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station.
Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station is in Herald, in southeast Sacramento County, California. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) bought the site in 1966 and built the plant, which had one Babcock & Wilcox pressurized water reactor.
Read more
The reactor first reached criticality on September 16, 1974, and began commercial operation on April 17, 1975. In June 1989, voters in the SMUD service area chose, 53 percent to 47 percent, to close the plant, mainly for economic reasons, and the reactor was permanently shut down that month. The NRC released most of the site for unrestricted use on October 23, 2009.
Ownership & Construction
The utility or company that owns and operates the facility, the architect-engineer responsible for plant design, and the primary construction contractor. Click names to view all facilities by that entity on the map.
Owner/Operator:
SMUD
Publicly Traded
No — Municipal utility district
Technical Specs
Reactor design specifications including type (PWR/BWR), containment design, nuclear steam supply system manufacturer, thermal and electrical power ratings, and current operational status.
Licensing
NRC licensing history including docket number, license type and number, construction permit date, operating license issuance, commercial operation date, license renewal, and expiration date.
Const. Permit:
1969-04-01
Operating Lic:
1974-10-13
Commercial Op:
1975-04-17