PUC Acts To Ensure Reliable Electricity Supply For Summer Months

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2005 - The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in its ongoing efforts to ensure electricity supply and reliability for the state, today approved electricity programs for summer 2005.

The Commission authorized funding to the utilities to complete advanced metering installations for customers with monthly demand over 200 kilowatts (kW). This will enable those large customers to participate in any of a variety of programs that the Commission approved. The Commission also authorized funding for a number of programs. Those program highlights include:

· Critical peak pricing

· Demand bidding

· Demand Reserves Partnership (originally a California Power Authority program now administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company)

· Both a commercial and a residential 20/20 program

· Commercial and residential air conditioner cycling and/or smart thermostat programs

· Education, awareness and outreach, including Flex Your Power, and other similar approaches

Through authorization of these programs, the Commission estimates that the additional demand response capacity available to the utilities statewide this summer will be approximately 600 megawatts (MW), of which 400 MW is estimated to come from the 20/20 programs.

For more information on the PUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

Source: The California Public Utilities Commission