SDG&E should meet summer power demand
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has announced that it has secured adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers' expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions.
The California Independent Systems Operator (Cal-ISO), the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, has issued its 2011 Summer Assessment, confirming adequate supplies to meet the projected electricity demand across the state, even if hotter-than-average temperatures occur.
"This year forecasters are predicting a warmer summer compared to last year when San Diego experienced unusually cool temperatures during the summer months," said David L. Geier, vice president of electric operations for SDG&E. "Even though our resources are ample, we want to remind our customers that conservation is important especially when unexpected conditions like a heat wave or transmission emergency arise."
In addition to helping to maintain electric resources, conservation also helps customers save money on their energy bill. The less energy customers use the lower their energy bills will continue to be.
Statewide, more than 1,800 megawatts (MW) of new generation resources have been added to the grid since summer 2010, including more than 46 MW of renewable generation, such as solar and wind.
"San Diegans are already doing a great job on energy efficiency and conservation, but we can always do more to go green and save money," Geier said.
SDG&E continues to work on providing the tools and resources to help customers manage their energy use wisely. By signing up for My Account at www.sdge.com, SDG&E customers have access to Energy Charts, a tool customers can use to track their energy usage and take steps to reduce that usage.
In addition, SDG&E has numerous energy-efficiency programs, including online tools to survey your own home's energy use, rebates for energy-efficient products, and no-cost, water-saving kits. The kits include three faucet aerators and a low-flow shower head. These easy-to-install items maintain a high-pressure flow while reducing water volume.
SDG&E also recommends these additional tips to reduce energy use and costs:
• Turn off unneeded lights, computers and appliances when not in use. These energy "vampires" can account for 5 percent of your energy use.
• Don't wait until your standard incandescent light bulbs burn out. Replace them now with compact fluorescent lamps , which use 75 percent less energy and can last 10 times longer.
• Check weather-stripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm outside air from entering the home.
• Close blinds, shades or drapes during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun's heat.
• Install low-flow, water-saving shower heads to cut water use and save 5 percent to 10 percent on water heating costs.
For more energy-saving tips to use throughout the year, visit www.sdge.com/residential or call 800-411-7343.
SDG&E signs contracts for 'green' energy
In other news, SDG&E has added more than 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, green energy to its renewable portfolio.
Recently, the utility announced it has signed two more contracts: a 25-year power purchase agreement for 150 megawatts (MW) of solar power with Solar Gen 2 LLC, and a one-year contract for 40 MW of geothermal power with Silicon Valley Power.
Solar Gen 2 LLC is a private solar development company based in Greenwich, Conn., with offices in Folsom, California. The 150-MW solar project will be built in three, 50-MW phases at separate sites on fallowed land in the Imperial Valley, California. Delivery of power from the first phase is expected by next summer.
"We continue to add more diversity to the mix of green energy in our renewable portfolio," said James P. Avery, SDG&E's senior vice president of power supply. "This latest solar project will be transmitted across Imperial Irrigation District (IID) transmission network to SDG&E and will get delivered to our customers and the Southern California region using the capacity of the Sunrise Powerlink and the help of the IID. With this agreement, we are broadening our partnership with the IID and helping to benefit the overall economy of the Imperial Valley, a true win-win all around."
The project will use solar photovoltaic panels and is expected to generate about 361 gigawatt-hours per year on average over the length of the contract, which represents nearly 2 percent of SDG&E's renewable portfolio over a full year.
"With SDG&E's development of the Sunrise line, we and other renewable developers can take advantage of the Imperial Valley's vast solar resource to benefit all of California," said Steve Zaminski, chief executive officer of Solar Gen 2. "We are pleased and grateful for the confidence placed in us by both SDG&E and the IID. This project would not be possible without the leadership and vision of SDG&E's and IID's board and management."
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is a municipal utility that serves the City of Santa Clara, California. The one-year power contract for 40 MW of electricity generated by underground steam heat is expected to produce about 350 gigawatt-hours of electricity over the length of the agreement, which continues through June 2012. Starting July 1, SDG&E began taking delivery of the geothermal power, which comes from Silicon Valley Power's ownership share of the geothermal units located in the Geysers region of Northern California.
"This contract is an example of the efforts SDG&E is making to comply with the near-term requirements as spelled out in new renewable legislation (SBX1 2)," said Avery. "This contract would add 1 percent to our RPS portfolio in both 2011 and 2012."
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has announced that it has secured adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers' expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions.
The California Independent Systems Operator (Cal-ISO), the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, has issued its 2011 Summer Assessment, confirming adequate supplies to meet the projected electricity demand across the state, even if hotter-than-average temperatures occur.
"This year forecasters are predicting a warmer summer compared to last year when San Diego experienced unusually cool temperatures during the summer months," said David L. Geier, vice president of electric operations for SDG&E. "Even though our resources are ample, we want to remind our customers that conservation is important especially when unexpected conditions like a heat wave or transmission emergency arise."
In addition to helping to maintain electric resources, conservation also helps customers save money on their energy bill. The less energy customers use the lower their energy bills will continue to be.
Statewide, more than 1,800 megawatts (MW) of new generation resources have been added to the grid since summer 2010, including more than 46 MW of renewable generation, such as solar and wind.
"San Diegans are already doing a great job on energy efficiency and conservation, but we can always do more to go green and save money," Geier said.
SDG&E continues to work on providing the tools and resources to help customers manage their energy use wisely. By signing up for My Account at www.sdge.com, SDG&E customers have access to Energy Charts, a tool customers can use to track their energy usage and take steps to reduce that usage.
In addition, SDG&E has numerous energy-efficiency programs, including online tools to survey your own home's energy use, rebates for energy-efficient products, and no-cost, water-saving kits. The kits include three faucet aerators and a low-flow shower head. These easy-to-install items maintain a high-pressure flow while reducing water volume.
SDG&E also recommends these additional tips to reduce energy use and costs:
• Turn off unneeded lights, computers and appliances when not in use. These energy "vampires" can account for 5 percent of your energy use.
• Don't wait until your standard incandescent light bulbs burn out. Replace them now with compact fluorescent lamps , which use 75 percent less energy and can last 10 times longer.
• Check weather-stripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm outside air from entering the home.
• Close blinds, shades or drapes during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun's heat.
• Install low-flow, water-saving shower heads to cut water use and save 5 percent to 10 percent on water heating costs.
For more energy-saving tips to use throughout the year, visit www.sdge.com/residential or call 800-411-7343.
SDG&E signs contracts for 'green' energy
In other news, SDG&E has added more than 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, green energy to its renewable portfolio.
Recently, the utility announced it has signed two more contracts: a 25-year power purchase agreement for 150 megawatts (MW) of solar power with Solar Gen 2 LLC, and a one-year contract for 40 MW of geothermal power with Silicon Valley Power.
Solar Gen 2 LLC is a private solar development company based in Greenwich, Conn., with offices in Folsom, California. The 150-MW solar project will be built in three, 50-MW phases at separate sites on fallowed land in the Imperial Valley, California. Delivery of power from the first phase is expected by next summer.
"We continue to add more diversity to the mix of green energy in our renewable portfolio," said James P. Avery, SDG&E's senior vice president of power supply. "This latest solar project will be transmitted across Imperial Irrigation District (IID) transmission network to SDG&E and will get delivered to our customers and the Southern California region using the capacity of the Sunrise Powerlink and the help of the IID. With this agreement, we are broadening our partnership with the IID and helping to benefit the overall economy of the Imperial Valley, a true win-win all around."
The project will use solar photovoltaic panels and is expected to generate about 361 gigawatt-hours per year on average over the length of the contract, which represents nearly 2 percent of SDG&E's renewable portfolio over a full year.
"With SDG&E's development of the Sunrise line, we and other renewable developers can take advantage of the Imperial Valley's vast solar resource to benefit all of California," said Steve Zaminski, chief executive officer of Solar Gen 2. "We are pleased and grateful for the confidence placed in us by both SDG&E and the IID. This project would not be possible without the leadership and vision of SDG&E's and IID's board and management."
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is a municipal utility that serves the City of Santa Clara, California. The one-year power contract for 40 MW of electricity generated by underground steam heat is expected to produce about 350 gigawatt-hours of electricity over the length of the agreement, which continues through June 2012. Starting July 1, SDG&E began taking delivery of the geothermal power, which comes from Silicon Valley Power's ownership share of the geothermal units located in the Geysers region of Northern California.
"This contract is an example of the efforts SDG&E is making to comply with the near-term requirements as spelled out in new renewable legislation (SBX1 2)," said Avery. "This contract would add 1 percent to our RPS portfolio in both 2011 and 2012."