Proposed Program Would Help Decrease the Number of and Duration of Electric
Outages by Increasing Flexibility of the Electrical Grid
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pacific Gas and
Electric Company today asked the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) to approve a six-year initiative -- the Cornerstone Improvement
Program -- to significantly improve the reliability of PG&E's electric
distribution system. At the same time, the utility requested enhancements
to its Low Income Energy Efficiency program.
"Reliable electric service is at the heart of the Cornerstone
Improvement Program," said Edward Salas, senior vice president of
engineering and operations for PG&E. "By strengthening our energy
foundation, we are preparing to meet our customers' future needs."
The Cornerstone Improvement Program comprises a set of initiatives
proposed by PG&E to decrease both the number and duration of electric
outages by increasing the flexibility of the electrical grid. Major
initiatives include increasing the capacity and interconnectivity of
distribution lines and substations, implementing distribution automation on
1,200 circuits in urban and suburban areas, and installing 5,000 switching
devices on rural circuits to reduce the number of customers affected by
outages.
The increase in monthly bills for a typical customer using the baseline
electric allowance would range from $0.01 (1 cent) in 2009 to $1.02 in 2014
as a result of this filing.
PG&E also applied today for CPUC approval of the 2009 - 2011 Low Income
Energy Efficiency (LIEE) and California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
programs and budget. This filing is specifically designed to increase the
availability of energy efficiency programs to more customers. The LIEE
Program provides low income customers with the means to reduce their energy
consumption, cut their energy bills and improve their quality of life.
PG&E proposes to make LIEE programs available to 25 percent of its low
income customers, which represents an increase from about 60,000 to 100,000
homes per year in line with PG&E's commitment to provide all eligible
customers the opportunity to participate in the LIEE program by 2020.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is
one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the
United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company
delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in
northern and central California. For more information, visit
http://www.pge.com/about/.
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
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Related links:
http://www.pge.com
CONTACT:
News Department of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, +1-415-973-5930
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