News and Insights

Follow our News and Insights page for relevant industry updates including what's happening in sustainable utility technology and practical advice for California public agencies manging the transition to sustainable technology.

Schools and libraries oppose proposed mandatory national bidding portal for E-rate as counterproductive

October 18, 2022

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, the State E-rate Coordinators’ Alliance, and the Consortium for School Networking have written a letter to the Federal Communications Commission in opposition to a proposed mandatory E-rate national bidding portal. As noted in the letter, the portal is...
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97% of smart meters fail to provide promised customer benefits

October 17, 2022

California’s experience shows customer access to real-time data does not compromise privacy or security, Mission:data’s Murray insisted. Utilities’ excuses “hide concern with revenue losses from lower kWh sales,” an intent to avoid “liability and customer support burdens,” or “competition from third parties for services they...
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Hackers release data after LAUSD refuses to pay ransom

October 17, 2022

Hackers released data from Los Angeles Unified School District on Saturday, a day after Supt. Alberto Carvalho said he would not negotiate with or pay a ransom to the criminal syndicate. . . . “What I can tell you is that the demand — any...
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Possible federal incentives for electricity as a vehicle fuel

October 17, 2022

In SPURR’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) Program, operators of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle fueling stations receive funds for credits created as part of two incentive programs. There is both a State of CA program (called LCFS) and a federal program (called RIN). SPURR...
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CA Becomes First State to Fully Eliminate Ratepayer Subsidies for Gas Line Extensions 

October 11, 2022

On September 15th, The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted to “entirely eliminate ratepayer subsidies for the extension of new gas lines beginning in July,” reports Utility Dive. The decision comes alongside a current push to decarbonize the building sector.  CPUC Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen explained,...
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Wholesale power prices in California spiked in Sep 2022. Why did that happen– and how high did they go?

October 7, 2022

Lucas Davis, Jeffrey A. Jacobs Distinguished Professor in Business and Technology at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, recently revealed insights about the effect of record-breaking summer heat waves on power prices. “The September heat wave was historic, both in...
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Get Your District to 100% LED With No Out of Pocket Cost and Streamlined Procurement

September 30, 2022

Description of webinarVector Energy Group is thrilled to host a new webinar on energy conservation projects and how school districts can achieve efficiency goals with the help of state programs and funding. Together we will review and discuss one of our most recent project, an...
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Global Natural Gas Crisis Heightened by War, Climate Crises Ahead of Winter

September 16, 2022

As the Wall Street Journal reports, U.S. shale gas is a highly sought commodity, with global events contributing to higher costs. In fact, natural gas has not been so costly since before the shale-drilling boom, and trading firm Ritterbusch & Associates predicts near-term prices skyrocketing...
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