13 Jul
Editor’s Note: California Current will be taking a two-week summer break. The last stories before the break will be posted on July 20. Story posting will resume the week of Aug. 6. State energy regulators belatedly agree to approve Southern California Edison’s 125 MW of energy efficiency, renewables and energy storage agreements to be developed […]
13 Feb
Updated Feb. 15. The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power is purchasing biomass power from the American Renewable Power-Loyalton Biomass project in Sierra County. LADWP will get 8.9 MW of biomass energy from American Renewable for five years under the deal at a cost of $97.50 per MWh. The deal helps satisfy an obligation […]
12 Dec
How to achieve an optimal rate design for non-residential electricity customers that combines important but conflicting state goals, including efficient energy prices and fairness, was debated at a two-day California Public Utilities Commission forum this week. “There is a tradeoff between efficiency and equity, and a tradeoff between efficiency and simplicity,” Bob Levin, CPUC senior […]
20 Nov
In response to efforts by telecommunications companies to expand their 4G networks and build new 5G networks, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Nov. 16 set fees for mounting small cell communications equipment on power poles. The move could be a precursor of bigger things to come for power utilities across the board. The fee will […]
10 May
California will have plenty of power this summer, the grid operator concluded in a report May 11, although the ongoing closure of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field in Southern California remains a concern. The California Independent System Operator said that its system should have a 19.5 percent operating reserve margin under normal conditions. […]
12 May
The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing a retroactive rate hike for Pacific Gas & Electric gas transmission and storage services of up to 32.1 percent for 2015. If the proposal ultimately is approved, rates for the services would continue to climb through 2017. (more…)
23 Jul
Listening to private utilities gripe about their costs during debates over a higher alternative energy standard while seeking increased ratepayer revenue elsewhere brings to mind loved ones, and not so loved ones, who freely take, but balk at giving. (more…)
2 Jul
California’s investor-owned utilities July 1 proposed ambitious plans for incorporating potentially tens of thousands of megawatts of distributed energy resources into their systems by 2025—from more rooftop solar to residential energy storage batteries and electric cars. (more…)
25 Jun
Closed-door meetings between regulators, utility representatives and other stakeholders bias the decision-making process in the regulated utility’s favor, finds a June 23 report commissioned by the California Public Utilities Commission. (more…)
25 Jun
Consumer advocates urged the California Public Utilities Commission June 24 to re-open its San Onofre settlement. (more…)
