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Canary Media: Bill Would End California Experiment with Income-Based Electric Bills

Posted by Jeff St. John on Feb 7, 2024

Canary Media reports on the California lawmakers’ efforts to overturn the California Public Utilities Commission’s plan to propose income-graduated fixed fees with Assembly Bill 1999. The article quotes Edson Perez and Brian Turner on how ratepayers will be affected by this and the consequences of this fixed charge.
 
Of all the ways California regulators are proposing to rein in fast-rising electric utility rates, few are as controversial as the plan to charge customers for electricity service based on how much money they make.
 
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Topics: United In The News, California, Brian Turner, Edson Perez

Advanced Energy United Applauds Bill to Halt the CPUC’s Proposed Income-Graduated Fixed Fee

Posted by Caroline Grace on Feb 2, 2024

California Lawmakers are pushing to dismantle fixed fee that would hike up utility bills

SACRAMENTO, CA – A coalition of California lawmakers led by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin have introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1999, which would repeal a prior bill authorizing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement a fixed-charge billing system for residential electricity bills based on household income. Instead, AB 1999 would cap utility fixed charges at $10.

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, California, Edson Perez

Clean Energy Funding Must Remain a Priority Despite California’s Budget Deficit

Posted by Caroline Grace on Jan 11, 2024

Maintaining clean energy investments will help meet state policy goals, support in-state jobs

SACRAMENTO, CA – This week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced this year’s state budget, reflecting the state’s fiscal challenges. Despite reductions, the new budget preserves much of the critical funding for clean energy and transportation investments. Maintaining strong funding commitments in zero-emission vehicles and clean energy, water, and transportation infrastructure is crucial to help communities switch to less-polluting technologies, support in-state jobs, and better position the state to meet its clean energy goals.

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, California

FERC Greenlights CAISO’s New Extended Day-Ahead Market

Posted by Adam Winer on Dec 22, 2023

New market approval a significant development for the West, says Advanced Energy United

WASHINGTON, DC – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the creation of a new extended day-ahead market (EDAM) by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), a significant development for the region. As CAISO notes in its news release, FERC’s action represents a major advance toward greater coordination of Western electricity markets. 

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner

Utility Dive: California Governor Signs Bill To Speed Utility Interconnections

Posted by Robert Walton on Oct 9, 2023

Utility Dive reports on the Powering Up Californians Act, quoting Emilie Olson's explanation of how the bill will help to improve delays in the utility interconnection process and speed up clean energy technology adoption in the Golden State.
 

SB 410, known as the Powering Up Californians Act, directs the California Public Utilities Commission to set average and target time periods for grid connections and upgrades. It is supported by several clean energy groups while Pacific Gas & Electric has expressed concern about the balance between speed and safety when it comes to grid upgrades

SB 410 is a key initiative to speed adoption of electric vehicles, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

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Topics: United In The News, Emilie Olson, California

California Adopts New Law to Boost Electric School Bus Adoption

Posted by Angelyn Tabalba on Oct 8, 2023

Newly signed law mandates new school buses be electric starting in 2035, building on California’s clean transportation leadership  

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA   Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 579 (AB 579) into law, speeding up the transition to zero-emission school buses. The law sets a statewide goal requiring all new school buses purchased or leased after 2035 to be zero-emission and extends transportation services and leasing contracts for zero emission school buses to ease the transition. 

By moving up the timeline for clean school buses, California can bring the benefits of clean air and cost savings to children and schools faster.This action is the latest significant effort to fast-track clean school transportation.

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Topics: Press Releases, Ryan Gallentine, Electric school buses, California

Bill to fix interconnection delays stalling adoption of residential solar, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging passes California legislature

Posted by Angelyn Tabalba on Sep 15, 2023

Legislation paves the way for more rapid clean energy deployment to California households

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA  Today, Advanced Energy United celebrated the bipartisan passage of SB 410, The Powering Up Californians Act, the first bill of its kind aimed at tackling delays in connecting customers’ clean energy technologies to the state’s power grid. Californians want clean energy solutions like residential solar and storage, heat pumps, and electric vehicles (EVs), but interconnection delays are a major obstacle in customer adoption of these technologies, slowing progress toward California’s decarbonization goals and customer energy savings.  

SB 410, introduced by Senator Josh Becker (District 13), requires an ongoing assessment of every investor-owned electric utility’s electrical service and interconnection performance, workforce staffing levels, and grid capacity. This bill also facilitates clear and reasonable timeframes for connecting clean energy systems to hold utilities accountable, benefit customers, and prevent future bottlenecks.  

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Emilie Olson, California

California Legislature Votes to Accelerate Electric School Bus Transition

Posted by Angelyn Tabalba on Sep 11, 2023

A bill to establish a statewide goal for zero-emission school buses will soon head to the Governor’s desk  

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA Today, the California Senate passed AB 579 to accelerate the adoption of electric school buses and bring the benefits of clean air and cost-savings to communities statewide. The bill, sponsored by Advanced Energy United and CALSTART, represents the latest significant action from the California Legislature to accelerate the transition to clean and safe school transportation. The bill will soon head to Governor Newsom’s desk for signing.  

Brought forward by Assemblymember Phil Ting (District 19), AB 579sets a statewide deadline requiring all new school buses purchased or leased after 2035 to be zero-emission. The bill extends the lease terms for contracted zero-emission school buses to maximize longer-term savings for schools. Expanding electric school bus adoption over the next decade will substantially reduce maintenance and fuel costs by thousands of dollars annually, freeing up funding to put back into the classroom. 

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Topics: Press Releases, Emilie Olson, Electric school buses, California

RTO Insider: Regulators Propose New Independent Western RTO

Posted by Hudson Sangree & Robert Mullin on Jul 14, 2023

RTO Insider examines the possibility of a Western RTO, citing Advanced Energy United's support for this region's hopes to develop a west-wide wholesale market.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The competition for organized markets in the West grew Friday as the Bonneville Power Administration launched a process to choose between day-ahead markets proposed by CAISO and SPP and regulators from five Western states urged the establishment of a new, independent RTO covering the entire West.

“This group proposes the creation of an entity that could serve as a means for delivering a market that includes all states in the Western Interconnection, including California, with independent governance,” regulators from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington wrote to the chairs of the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB) and the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC).

The entity “could provide a full range of regional transmission operator services, utilizing a contract for services” with CAISO including eventual “assumption” of CAISO’s proposed Extended Day Ahead Market (EDAM) and its real-time Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM).

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Topics: United In The News, New Mexico, Western RTO, California, Arizona

It’s critical that California maintain clean energy funding in budget amidst fiscal challenges, says Advanced Energy United

Posted by Angelyn Tabalba on Jun 30, 2023

SACRAMENTO, CA — This week the California legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom reached a state budget agreement that reflects California’s challenging fiscal landscape and results in difficult reductions. Advanced Energy United, the national clean energy business association, recognizes the importance of an approach that considers both economic realities and the imperative to accelerate advanced energy across the state. The budget prompts continued conversation on strengthening clean energy infrastructure and protecting crucial programs that advance California’s clean transportation goals.  

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Topics: Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, California