The California Public Utilities Commission granted Pacific Gas & Electric the option of trimming energy to 400,000 of its customers when power use is at a peak. Although consumers can override the utility’s voluntary plan to shave peak demand during hot afternoons by remotely turning off their air conditioning, the commission decided that the move would still lessen use by 345 MW. “It’s an extremely cost-effective demand response program,” said Mike Peevey, CPUC president. “It avoids system emergencies.”
