Energy RSS FeedCity of San Diego Looking to Generate Money With Solar
Southern California is one of the leading areas with solar installations (see this post) and San Diego is no different. So it makes sense that the City of San Diego would want to get involved with solar--not just as a way to stick it to SDG&E--but as a potential fix to the City’s budget deficit problem.
Health Effects of Smart Meters -- Overstated & Underproven
An increasing number of SDG&E customers are raising concerns about smart meters' impacts upon their health. The non-ionizing radiation emitted from smart meters has become an increasingly polarizing issue. A few customers view the meters as deadly ray-emitters polluting their homes. While others couldn't care less. We care. We care enough to say that, so far, there's no compelling evidence that smart meters being installed in San Diego pose a real and present danger to any customers. And here's why...........
Looking for information on solar? Check out the Open PV Project
On a tip from our affiliate organization New Media Rights (a fantastic organization focused on new media and access to information), here's a link to a site dedicated to providing information about solar installations throughout the United States--The Open PV Project.
SDG&E's 11 hour outage leaves 1,300 without power overnight
Last night’s unexpected power outage in Oceanside, San Luis Rey, and Ocean Hills left 1,300 residents without power. The outage began at 10:53 pm March 15, 2011 and power was restored to all customers by noon today (March 16). Although the outage affected a relatively small number of people, 11 hours without power is nothing to sneeze at.
Q&A - SDG&E's Public Purpose Program
Q&A Time! We recently received a question from a member who wanted to know what the heck the Public Purpose Program (PPP) charge on their bill is and why it is so much money! As my colleague Mike posted the other day, the PPP funds are used in various ways. But this is only half of the story. What formula does SDG&E use to calculate the PPP charge? Read on to find out more.
What is the Public Purpose Program Charge
The Public Purpose Programs charge that appears on your monthly utility bill is assessed to pay for various programs required by California law and/or the California Public Utilities Commission. Those programs include renewable resource energy technologies; energy efficiency; research, development and demonstration; and low-income programs. Currently there are six programs being funded through the Public Purpose Programs charge.
Beware Misleading Energy "Studies"
There's little need to repeat the adage that you must take care to verify whatever you read on the Internet. A good case in point is a report issued today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Its blasts U.S. energy policy as being thwarted by bureaucrats. It is aptly entitled: "Project No Project. Progress Denied". But it probably should be titled "Cents. No Sense: Reality Denied". Here's why.
What really happens to your old meter when SDG&E installs your smart meter
Smart meters. A four letter word in some circles, these devices have caused uproar for a multitude of reasons. From higher bills to health effects, privacy concerns and installation heart aches, some SDG&E customers are outraged by the new meters. While I understand those concerns, my biggest concern and frustration is that SDG&E customers is can’t independently compare their old electromechanical meter to their new smart meter. Sure, they can rely on SDG&E’s reports and studies that show that the new smart meters are accurate. But when SDG&E customers see a spike in their bill and the only answer from SDG&E is that the new meter is more accurate than the old meter and the bill is correct, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Appliances Exposed - The True Cost of Operation
The San Diego weather forecast has been fairly cool the past couple of months. I hesitate to use the word cold, because to be honest, 55 degrees isn’t really that cold. Especially when compared to temperatures in the teens and single digits, a thermometer that hovers around 60 isn’t all that bad. But, it is cool for the thin-skinned San Diegans, so we resort to using things like central heaters and clothes dryers more often. These creature comforts can bring comfort on a chilly night, but how much do they actually cost to operate? Hit the jump to find out.
California Energy Commission launches a new site to help consumers with energy upgrades
With SDG&E’s increasing rates and our current cold spell, San Diegans have every reason to keep their home energy efficient. But trying to find a decent contractor and ensuring you qualify for those energy rebates can be a pain in the butt.
John Mattes is an embedded reporter for the New Media Rights Community Journalism Project investigating UCAN issues.
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SDG&E General Rate Case - 2012
In 2010, SDG&E filed a proposal with the California Public Utility Commision (CPUC), to increase your SDG&E rates by $1.2 billion. UCAN has fought this proposed rate increase by submitting expert testimony and briefs. These documents demonstrate that SDG&E has wildly inflated its costs in a number of cost categories. UCAN argues that SDG&E should not receive extraordinary profits for doing what it is required to do by law – provide good utility service at reasonable rates. Get the full 418-page Opening Brief (pdf format), here, or a quick summary here.
The Electric Car --- cleaner than you'd think
So is the electric car an environmental blessing or curse? Some allege that they simply substitute one kind of pollution for another. Others see it as a second coming of environmental enlightenments. Usually, these kinds of disputes resolve somewhere in the middle. But, according to the Sierra Club, perhaps not.
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