The Lake Hodges Pump Station is part of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Emergency Storage Project (ESP). The Olivenhain-Hodges pumped storage project is an integral component of the Lake Hodges project, providing electrical generating capacity while enhancing ESP requirements to ensure regional water reliability. The ESP is a system that connects the Olivenhain Reservoir to Lake Hodges. As water is conveyed to the lake from the reservoir, it passes through turbines to generate electricity. Power generation is intended for peak demand and purchased by SDG&E, a local utility. During times of emergency or drought, the turbines are reversed and water is pumped from the lake back into the reservoir.