CA Current

CA Current

• Fact Checking Trump’s and Biden’s Energy Transition Plans October 27, 2020
  In the presidential candidates’ final debate, President Trump said Vice President Biden’s energy plan could cost tens of millions of jobs. Wind is “extremely expensive” and solar “doesn’t quite have it yet,” he added. And he avoided answering a question about the health impacts of polluting industries. There is “a moral obligation” to address the […]
  Herman Trabish
• The Buzz October 23, 2020
  State utility regulators allow Pacific Gas & Electric to fold $447 million into rates to recoup part of its wildfire tab. Whether these incurred costs linked to different accounts are reasonable will be determined later. Also this week, a majority of the California Public Utilities Commission refuses to back a penalty program aimed at stopping […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• CPUC Lets PG&E Recover $447M From Ratepayers for Wildfires October 23, 2020
  The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a request from Pacific Gas & Electric to pass on $447 million of its various wildfire mitigation costs to ratepayers without undergoing a reasonableness review. PG&E will raise residential rates over 17 months, starting this December, by an average $48. CPUC President Marybel Batjer insisted the approval “will […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• No Enforcement Yet Against Solar Swindlers October 23, 2020
  A proposed penalty program aimed at predatory solar contractors and shoddy solar installations, particularly in poor communities with members who have no or little ability to communicate in English, was nearly shot down on a 3-2 vote by the California Public Utilities Commission. Commissioner Guzman Aceves who proposed the punishments was visibly upset by the […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• More PG&E Safety Shutoffs October 22, 2020
  Pacific Gas & Electric cut off power to about 32,500 customers in nine counties Wednesday evening because of powerful winds. To avoid the potential for its equipment to start wildfires, it initially projected temporarily blacking out 54,000 customers in 19 counties but changing weather conditions reduced the numbers of homes and businesses impacted. PG&E said […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• Shorts October 22, 2020
  Veloz and Electrify America announced Oct. 22 the launch of a web-based tool to help electric car owners select a home charging unit that best fits their needs. The tool, Home Charging Advisor, is available on Veloz’s electric car consumer shopping website, Electric For All. “We aim to make electric car ownership and operation as smooth […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• Recurring Problem Forced Diablo Canyon Nuke Unit Offline October 21, 2020
  The untimely Oct. 15 shut down of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant’s Unit 2 is the second malfunction in a critical component of its electric generator, which was just rebuilt. In July, the same Pacific Gas & Electric unit was forced offline because then, as now, the cooling system that lowers the extreme heat inside […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• CPUC Judge Adds Ratepayer Protections to $337M SCE Bond October 21, 2020
  The California Public Utilities Commission pushes back against a controversial proposal by Southern California Edison to put its ratepayers on the hook for $337 million in new debt. The utility plans to raise the money from bondholders to cover its costs of hardening power equipment against fire threats, which will be fully repaid by SCE […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy
• “Super” CCA Collaboration for 500 MW of Long Duration Storage October 19, 2020
  Eight community choice aggregators are forming a procurement agency to jointly invest in much needed but neglected long duration energy storage. Leaders of the new Joint Powers Agency will issue a groundbreaking solicitation from their “super JPA“ that will pool the eight members’ resources and bid for up to 500 MW of long duration energy […]
  Herman Trabish
• The Buzz October 16, 2020
  The grid operator calls for conservation in the face of spiking temperatures along the Southern California Coast and in the northern part of the state. Peak demand is not the issue: the large Diablo nuclear power plant going offline and fire threats are. Federal energy regulators agree to allow carbon pricing into grid markets. But […]
  Elizabeth Mc Carthy