More Community Aggregators Come of Age, Get Rated

CA Current

• Unprecedented PG&E Ratepayer Bond Gets Final Okay May 7, 2021
  The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the financing order setting parameters for Pacific Gas & Electric’s unprecedented 30-year, $7.5 billion ratepayer financed securitization. It is the largest and lengthiest utility bond securitization in U.S. history, according to Joseph Fichera, Saber Partners CEO. On May 6, the CPUC approved the order detailing the financial terms […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• RPS Costs Increased Last Year, CPUC Says May 6, 2021
  The average cost of non-fossil resources bought by private utilities, community energy and other providers pursuant to California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard rose last year compared to 2019. But they still remain low. That’s according to a new California Public Utilities Commission report. It attributes the cost increase to an expansion of renewable purchases beyond solar […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• SDG&E Faces No Competition for San Diego Franchise May 5, 2021
  San Diego Gas & Electric remains the sole bidder in the City of San Diego’s solicitation for exclusive electric and gas services. “We do not feel it is appropriate to characterize where we are in the negotiation process,” Jeffery Martin, CEO of parent company Sempra Energy, told financial analysts May 5. The city is the […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• Feds Advance Giant Desert Solar Project May 5, 2021
  The Bureau of Land Management gave a green light to a 350 MW solar project on 2,049 acres of federal land near Blythe in Riverside County May 3. Late last year, Southern California Edison contracted for 200 MW from this Crimson photovoltaic project to fuel an adjacent 200 MW battery project as part of SCE’s […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• PG&E Tells CPUC to Reject Challenges to $7.5B Bond Approval May 4, 2021
  Pacific Gas & Electric is defending the California Public Utilities Commission’s finding that it may proceed with its $7.5 billion mortgage-like ratepayer-backed bond issuance against objections from ratepayer advocates and others. Regulators unanimously approved April 23 Administrative Law Judge Robert Haga’s proposed decision finding the utility met the legal requirements for securitization. PG&E says it […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• PG&E’s Earnings Fall, SCE’s and SDG&E’s Rise May 4, 2021
  Updated May 5 Pacific Gas & Electric Corp: the parent company of the utility, reported a considerable drop in first quarter earnings, $120 million, or 6 cents a share. That contrasts to $371 million, or 57 cents a share, for the first quarter of 2020. On the utility side, PG&E’s first quarter earnings were $174 […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• Local Permitting Remains Major Hurdle to EV Charging May 4, 2021
  Getting local permits for electric vehicle chargers in hand, and the cost of installing them in California, continue to exceed national averages. That is despite the enactment more than five years ago of a law to streamline permitting. The average wait time for a local EV charger permit in California is 70% longer than the […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• The Buzz April 30, 2021
  State regulators agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric that issuance of $7.5 billion in ratepayer bonds will improve its ratings will be put to the test again. Intervenors will seek rehearing of the controversial California Public Utilities Commission decision. A major rating agency is non plussed because the big utility securitization will not affect its […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• Shaky Claims About PG&E Bond Rating Impact Raise Challenges April 30, 2021
  Pacific Gas & Electric argued repeatedly that it should be allowed to use bonds payable by customers to cover billions of dollars of its wildfire liability because it will help boost its credit rating. That in turn will lower borrowing costs, which then benefits those same customers. The California Public Utilities Commission bought its argument […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• CAISO Moves Toward Better Use of Storage April 30, 2021
  The California grid operator issued a paper Wednesday outlining proposals to make its market more friendly for energy storage after sharp criticism from storage providers. Their complaints include that compensation is inadequate because the current market algorithm is too limited to accommodate batteries in the real-time market. The aim is “to fully integrate these resources […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy