Category: Energy

The California State Auditor (CSA) recently issued a report excoriating the Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), especially PG&E, as well as the state’s “Energy Safety Office,” for failures related to wildfires and to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The report is posted here. https://www.auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2021-117.pdf Among other...

California regulators on December 13 proposed significant changes to the state’s solar incentive program. The new policy would reduce payments granted to solar customers for the excess power they generate and export out to the grid via “Net Energy Metering” and also add monthly charges...

Under the arrangement, for-profit energy providers will use bond funds to provide CCAs a discount on their electricity thanks to the difference in taxable and tax-exempt rates. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-nonprofits-issue-2-billion-in-bonds-to-buy-30-years-of-renewabl/611057/

CPUC instructs PG&E, SCE, SDG&E to collectively procure between 2 GW and 3 GW of additional demand and supply-side resources, expand existing demand response programs by doubling the compensation customers will receive for conserving energy when the grid is strained, and roll out a new...

On Jul 30, 2020, Governor Newsome issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency. According to the Proclamation, “California currently faces an additional projected energy supply shortage of up to 3,500 megawatts during the afternoon-evening ‘net-peak’ period of high power demand on days when there...

Twice so far in 2021, Governor Newsom has suspended *all* environmental regulations on CA electricity generators for at least three days at a time. On each of June 17 and July 9, the Governor issued State of Emergency proclamations covering separate “Extreme Heat Events” lasting...

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...

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...