Featured Display

Name: H-Tec DT Fan Fuel Cell
Description: A 10 milliwatt proton exchange membrane fuel cell operated with a 3% methanol in distilled water solution
System Addressed: Electric
Illustrates: How a fuel cell works

Featured Instrument

Name: High-Accuracy and Wide-Range Temperature Sensors
Description: Measure temperature
Examples of Use: Both sensors measure and log temperature in HVAC systems (ducts) and are also used in conjunction with the HOBO external loggers.
Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 10 business days. Remember: safety first!

Featured Book

The Refrigerant Manual: Managing the Phase-Out of CFCs is published by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and was written to provide guidance and updates for the difficult task of phasing out CFCs. The book covers legislation, regulations, and the choices owners/operators have that do not include CFCs.

Featured Periodical

Engineered Systems is published monthly by bnp Media and provides practical, application-oriented information to assist facilities engineers, consulting engineers and mechanical contractors who design, specify, install, maintain, and purchase non-residential HVACR equipment and components.

Featured Video

 

Name: Greenhouse Crisis
Description: Produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the video illustrates the relationship between energy consumption, the greenhouse effect, and global warming. The program details the potential consequences of global warming, and stresses the need for energy efficiency and renewable forms of energy.
Length: 11 minutes

NOTE: Books, periodicals and videos can also be checked out free of charge. Please call toll-free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information.

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CPUC REGULATORY ACTIVITY INCLUDES:

Rehearing of Otay Mesa Power Purchase Agreement (R.01-10-024): In an Aug. 16 Scoping Memo and Ruling, the CPUC approved a limited rehearing of decision D.04-06-011, regarding the Otay Mesa Power Purchase Agreement ( PPA). The CPUC ruled that the purpose of the rehearing was to determine the benefits to ratepayers and the benefits of the PPA. Some parties argued that the rehearing should be broadened to include a comparison of alternatives to the Otay Mesa Power Plant PPA. The Scoping Memo set forth the following procedural schedule for the rehearing:

• Sept. 8 - SDG&E Testimony
• Sept. 30 - Intervenor Testimony
• Oct. 7 - SDG&E Reply
• October 17-21 - Evidentiary Hearings

Energy Efficiency Programs 2006-2008 (A.05-06-016 / R.01-08-028): On Aug. 17, the CPUC released a draft decision approving energy efficiency program filed by the investor-owned utilities of California. Comments were due Sept. 6 and reply comments 5 days after. SDG&E released a Request for Information (RFI) on Sept. 1 that invites third parties to submit program ideas that address energy efficiency needs in the region. Abstracts will be due to SDG&E Sept. 20.

Critical Peak Pricing (A.05-01-017): On Aug. 1, SDG&E and PG&E filed default CPP rates for 2006 as part of the Rate Design Window proceeding at the CPUC. The CPUC is requiring the utilities to implement a default CPP rate for all bundled customers with demands >=200kW, effective May 1, 2006. A CPUC pre-hearing conference was held Aug. 24. SDG&E held a public forum on Aug. 25 to inform local stakeholders of their proposal that includes a CPP period lasting from 11:00am to 6:00pm and no minimum or maximum number of CPP events that can be called. The CPUC has stated it favors statewide consistency, so SDG&E’s rate proposal is subject to change and may be substantially different from what it proposed.

Confidentiality Rulemaking (R.05-06-040): The CPUC recently initiated a rulemaking to examine CPUC practices regarding confidential information to ensure public participation in proceedings and open decision making. The rulemaking was required by SB 1488 (Bowen), which was passed in 2004. No Scoping Memo has been issued for this rulemaking.

SDG&E General Rate Case (A.05-05-012): SDG&E filed its general rate case in May. In recent activity in this proceeding, the Office of Ratepayer Advocates and other intervenors filed testimony on Aug. 8. Rebuttal testimony was filed Aug. 24. In its filing, SDG&E seeks to increase its rate of return from 8.18% to 9.12%, and increase its return on equity from 10.38% to 12%. According to a June 22 Scoping Memo, the procedural schedule for this proceeding is as follows:

• Sept. 7 - Evidentiary Hearing Starts, Commission Courtroom, State Office Building, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California
• Sept. 8–9 - Evidentiary Hearing Continues, as Needed
• Sept. 20 - Late-Filed Exhibit Update Costs of Debt/Stock
• Sept. 28 - Opening Briefs and Deadline to File a Request for Final Oral Argument
• Oct. 6 - Reply Briefs and Proposed Submission Date
• Nov. 15 - Proposed Decision Filed
• Dec. 15 - Final Decision Issued

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

The 2005 state legislative session is coming to a close. Sept. 2 was the last day for a bill to be amended and the session is scheduled to end Sept. 9. The Governor’s reorganization plan to create a Department of Energy was vetoed by the Senate, so the Governor introduced the plan into legislation by amending an existing bill (AB 1165) of Representative Bogh. AB 1165 will likely be heard in the 2006 legislative session.

State Bills that Passed:

SB 816 (Kehoe): On July 21, the Governor signed into law this bill that raises the Net Metering cap for the SDG&E territory from approximately 19MW to 50MW of aggregate customer peak demand. Net Metering allows customers to connect eligible solar and wind systems directly to the utility’s distribution system and to receive full retail value for the electricity they produce. San Diego was the only part of the state nearing capacity under the old cap.

SB 1732 (La Malfa): Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund. This bill stipulates that funds received from the gasoline consumption surcharge fund for public-interest research and development in the gas industry would be administered by the CEC, similarly to how it oversees the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. On July 21, the Governor signed this bill into law.

SB 76: Specifies that the CEC can use some of the $65 million of public -goods charge funds earmarked for the PIER program for transportation projects, such as hydrogen fuel research.

Active State Bills:

AB 32 (Pavley): California Climate Act of 2006. Requires the California EPA to institute a cap on greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions from the electrical power, industrial, and commercial sectors of the economy; institute a schedule of emissions reductions for specified entities; develop an enforcement mechanism for reducing GHG emissions to the target level; and establish a program to track and report GHG emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance with the GHG emissions cap. Last amended Aug. 15. Likely to be heard in the 2006 legislative session.

AB 380 (Nunez): Resource Adequacy. Requires the PUC to establish, implement and enforce resource adequacy requirements (RAR) on all electrical load serving entities (LSEs) to ensure that adequate physical generating capacity, dedicated to serving all load requirements, is available to meet peak demand plus requisite planning and operating reserves. Last amended Sept. 2.

AB 1362 (Levine): RPS Goal Acceleration. Advances the RPS goals for renewable energy procurement to 20% by 2010 and adopt rules that authorize the use of renewable energy credits to satisfy annual procurement targets. Provides that the bill becomes operative only if SB 107 (Simitian) is enacted by Jan. 1, 2006. Moved to inactive file Aug. 29. Read a second time Aug. 17 and last amended July 12.

AB 1576 (Nunez): Repowering Power Plants. Requires the CEC to consider the approval of any cost effective generation facilities that meet specific criteria for a repower facility, including a requirement that they must replace an older, less efficient facility, must be located on an optimal site close to customers, and can use the existing infrastructure. Amended and passed Senate Committee on Appropriations Sept. 2.

AB 1585 (Blakeslee): RPS Goal Acceleration Study. Requires the CEC to review the feasibility of increasing the renewable portfolio standard ( RPS) target to 33% by 2020 and to include the results of this review in the Integrated Energy Policy Report to be adopted by the Legislature and the Governor by Nov. 1, 2007. Passed Assembly (8/29) and Senate (8/23), enrolled and sent to Governor Sept. 2.

AB 1723 (La Malfa): Integrated Energy Policy Report. Requires each IOU and municipality to provide the CEC with its load forecast, as part of each integrated energy policy report. Passed Assembly (9/1) and Senate (8/30), enrolled and sent to Governor Sept. 2.

SB 1 (Murray): Million Solar Roofs Initiative. Establishes the Million Solar Roofs Initiative with the goals of placing 1,000,000 solar energy systems on new and existing residential and commercial customer sites (or 3,000 megawatts equivalent) establishing a self-sufficient solar industry in 10 years, and placing solar energy systems on 50% of new home developments in 13 years. Last amended Sept. 2 in Assembly.

SB 107 (Simitian): Renewable Portfolio Standard. Increases the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by Dec. 31, 2010. Last amended in Assembly Aug. 30.

SB 426 (Simitian): LNG Impacts. Requires the commission to make a liquefied natural gas ( LNG) needs assessment study. Last amended in Assembly Aug. 31.

SB 441 (Soto): Advanced Metering. Prohibits the commission from requiring the installation of advanced metering infrastructure for any building constructed prior to Jan. 1, 2006, and occupied by a customer with average annual electricity usage of less than 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. Last amended in Assembly Aug. 22 and placed on inactive file Sept. 1.

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