Colgate Powerhouse Penstock Failure Causes Widespread Outages

Burst pipe at Yuba Water Agency facility floods structure, knocks out power to thousands

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Colgate Powerhouse, operated by the Yuba Water Agency, has experienced a failure of the penstock pipe carrying water from Bullards Bar Reservoir to the Yuba River. The burst pipe has flooded the powerhouse structure, and numerous emergency units have been dispatched to the scene, with reports of possible entrapment. The incident has also caused widespread power outages affecting thousands of customers across Nevada, Yuba, Sierra, and Butte counties.

Why it matters

The Colgate Powerhouse is a critical piece of infrastructure that generates hydroelectric power for the region. A failure of this magnitude can have significant impacts on the local power grid and disrupt service to thousands of homes and businesses. Additionally, the flooding and potential entrapment issues raise concerns about public safety and the need for swift water rescue operations.

The details

According to reports, the penstock pipe that burst had a diameter of approximately 26 feet, corresponding to the tunnel from Bullards Bar Reservoir. The failure caused flooding of PG&E's Colgate switching station, leading to the widespread power outages. Yuba Water Agency is working to shut off the valve above the busted pipe to stop the flooding, and a command post has been established at the nearby Lake Francis dam to coordinate the emergency response.

  • At around 3:00 PM on February 13, 2026, the penstock pipe failure occurred.
  • By 3:12 PM, the burst pipe had flooded the Colgate Powerhouse structure, and 923 customers were reported to be without power.
  • By 3:16 PM, the number of customers affected by the various large outages had grown to 4,045 in Nevada County, 2,147 in Yuba County, and 1,314 in Sierra County.
  • As of 3:33 PM, the gate at Bullards Bar Reservoir had been shut off, and Yuba Water was attempting to shut off the valve above the busted pipe.
  • By 3:53 PM, a helicopter had been dispatched to the incident, and there were reports of smoke coming from the powerhouse, though no visible flames.

The players

Yuba Water Agency

The agency that operates the Colgate Powerhouse and is working to shut off the water flow and assess the damage.

PG&E

The utility company that owns the Colgate switching station, which was flooded by the penstock failure, causing widespread power outages.

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What they’re saying

“At about 3 p.m. on Feb. 13, more than 15,000 PG&E customers lost power after the failure of a non-PG&E penstock – a steeply angled water pipe that provides water to a powerhouse. The failure caused flooding of PG&E's Colgate switching station south of Dobbins in Yuba County.”

— PG&E (yubanet.com)

What’s next

Yuba Water Agency is working to shut off the valve above the busted pipe to stop the flooding, and a command post has been established at the nearby Lake Francis dam to coordinate the emergency response. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Colgate Powerhouse failure highlights the critical importance of maintaining and securing vital energy infrastructure, as a single point of failure can have widespread impacts on power supply and public safety. This incident underscores the need for robust emergency response protocols and coordination between utility providers and local authorities to mitigate the effects of such events.