The slide presentation from the recent 2021 SPURR Joint Powers Authority Annual Member Meeting Presentation is linked below: SPURR Annual Member Meeting Presentation Agenda items include reports and discussion regarding SPURR’s programs and other topics: Solar Power and Energy Storage LED Lighting and Energy Conservation Natural Gas Supply Grid Power Electricity Supply Pending Legislation and...
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Author: Michael Rochman (Michael Rochman)
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CA Faces Energy Resources Shortfall
California faces energy resource shortfalls amid extreme heat and drought. On June 27, 2021, the CA grid operator warned that rising temperatures and drought conditions mean there could be resource shortfalls early in the week. Electricity consumers should be prepared to reduce their consumption, the grid operator (CAISO) said. Demand response and customer conservation “are...
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Why are Solar PPA Prices Creeping Upward?
Why are solar PPA prices creeping upward? It’s complicated, experts say. Prices for solar PPAs in North America rose 2.6% during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior quarter, according to data from LevelTen Energy’s PPA marketplace. But the rise wasn’t part of any sudden shift — according to LevelTen, solar PPA prices...
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Who Will Pay for Legacy Natural Gas Utility Costs?
UC Berkeley economics and energy researchers studied the growing “electrify everything” movement, which aims to transition utility customers from natural gas toward electricity. As regulated monopolies, natural gas utility distribution companies recover fixed costs by spreading fees across their customer base. Researchers found that utilities that lose customers historically maintain pipeline infrastructure even as the...
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Record High Wildfire Threats Force Cal. to Pick When & Where to Fight Utilities
Record wildfire threats like winds, drought, and heat take the wildfire fight much farther that utilities, forcing California to pick when and where to fight utilities. Since 2017, California has had 13 of its 20 most destructive fires , seven of its 20 deadliest fires , average temperature is up almost 3°F and it’s eight warmest years have been since 2010,...
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Rapid ‘Energy Efficiency as a Service’ Growth Belies Financing & Difficulties
According to panelists at the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings summit, energy service providers offering off-balance sheet efficiency products have seen rapid growth in the number of deals signed each year. A 2017 market report by Navigant estimated Energy Efficiency as a Service could become a $221 billion market by 2026, up from about...
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California’s dilemma: How to control skyrocketing electric rates while building the grid of the future
New ideas include income-based rates, publicly-funded infrastructure, utility entrepreneurship, and customer-funded wildfire insurance. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Marybel Batjer says the state will not let skyrocketing electricity rates threaten reliability or the state’s policy goals. But affordability is a growing concern as California works toward a “future grid” and a dynamic new...
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Demand Response for Everyone
As you know, Demand Response plays a vital role in supporting cleaner and more reliable electricity across California as our grid evolves. Previously, schools with backup generators were not eligible to enroll these assets in Demand Response. However, with recent updates, we believe that the vast majority of school, college and other public agencies facilities...
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SPURR UV-C Disinfection Webinar Presented by Rexel Energy Solutions & R-Zero
Schools are evaluating new protocols to keep their indoor environment, students, and staff safe from pathogens. UV-C disinfection is an alternative to other disinfection regimes, such as spraying that have their own costs and dangers. R-Zero’s Arc has been shown in studies to kill 99.99% of pathogens and can disinfect a 1,000 square foot room...
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March Public Workshop by CPUC on PG&E and SDG&E Preventive Power Shutoffs
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host a public workshop on the operations and performance of Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and another utility company during 2020 preventive power shutoffs, also known as Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). At this workshop, each utility will provide information on their 2020 PSPS...