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California sets example, biggest energy efficiency plan ever

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:September 25, 2009

The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved spending $3.1 billion over the next three years to cut the amount of electricity used in the state, potentially saving as much power as the output of three power plants.

The California Public Utilities Commission set a three-year budget for utilities 42 percent higher than the previous plan. The state pioneered the concept of letting utilities raise rates as they spurred conservation, which still is not the case in many U.S. states.

Edison International’s unit Southern California Edison, PG&E Corp’s main unit Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Sempra Energy’s San Diego Gas & Electric Co and its Southern California Gas Company will funnel the money into a dozen statewide programs and some extra smaller initiatives.

The energy saved through the programs would be the same amount of power produced by three 500 megawatt power plants, according the California Public Utilities.

The programs will also avoid 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and create between 15,000 and 18,000 jobs.

The package includes design and technical assistance for local governments and innovative approaches such as a comprehensive effort to retrofit 130,000 homes, and new construction programs will help new buildings achieve energy savings above California’s building code — already some of the most advanced in the world.

Consumers who purchase energy efficient products will also be eligible for rebates ranging from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars and benefit from lower utility bills from energy savings. A new Web portal will also make it easier for consumers to access tools to reduce energy use.

“At a time when many Californians are struggling to make ends meet, these investments will provide the economic relief we need while meeting our energy demands in a clean, low cost, and efficient way,” added Noah Long, energy attorney for NRDC.

The California utilities’ energy efficiency programs are a cornerstone of AB 32 and by 2012 are expected to reduce global warming pollution by 3 million tons each year, the equivalent to the emissions from nearly 600,000 cars a year. These portfolios will avoid the need to build at least three large and expensive power plants in the next three years thus significantly reducing pollution while saving Californians money.

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