California's Severe Drought Is Making Electricity More Expensive, And Less Clean

California produces a significant amount of energy from hydroelectric dams. What happens when there is no more water in the dams?

Low water in northern California's Lake Oroville on Oct. 30, 2014.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP

More than 99% of California was experiencing drought conditions in March, and 40% of the state was in the grips of an "exceptional" drought — the highest category. Officials say the conditions are some of the worst in the state's recorded history.

Drought means less water, but it also means that electricity is costing Californians more as well, according to a new report from the Pacific Institute.

According to the report, the drought cost California $1.4 billion because it has significantly reduced the amount of water in reservoirs and streams that run hydroelectric power plants. In response, the state has had to turn to other, more costly forms of energy, including natural gas, wind, and solar.

"As a result, the drought has led to a direct increase in electricity costs to California ratepayers," the report explains.

A warning buoy sits on the dry, cracked bed of Lake Mendocino near Ukiah, California, on Feb. 4 2014.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP

Albert Lundeen, spokesperson for the California Energy Commission, generally agreed with the report, telling BuzzFeed News that the drought has cut down on the amount of water for generating electricity.

"That usually leads to an increase in natural gas," he said, but added that maturing wind and solar energy have been filling the gaps.

Still, other forms of energy come with a cost; according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, hydroelectric power is less than a third as expensive as traditional fossil fuel electricity.

The report charts the different sources of California's energy since 2001, showing that there has been a gradual increase in natural gas usage, along with significant increases of wind and solar. Hydroelectric, represented in the graphic below by the green line, dropped off significantly in 2014.

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