The Energy Resource Center ( ERC) has a vast array of books, periodicals, DVDs and tools to assist businesses and home owners with energy efficiency products, services and practices. Books, periodicals and DVDs can be checked out free of charge. Please call toll-free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. For a look at tools and resources available in the lending library, click here.

ERC Featured Display

Name: Appliance Scanner Game

Description: According to a study done at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, electricity consumption in American homes is growing faster in the area of small appliances than in any other category. Items such as computers, microwave ovens and dehumidifiers now account for about one-fifth of the energy used in your home.

Scan one of the appliances and compare the yearly energy consumption. You might be surprised by what you find. These estimates will vary based on your individual usage. Keep in mind that some products also continue to draw power even when turned off. In fact, nearly 20% of the electricity used by appliances is lost while they are sitting in the standby mode waiting to be used!

ERC Featured Instrument

Name: Fluke 337 AC/DC Digital Clamp Meter - Tool #16

The Fluke 337 AC/ DC Digital Clamp Meter provides you the ability to work quickly and easily in narrow and dark locations and makes it possible to keep track of your measurements for further analysis.

Features:

• Small body and jaws fit perfectly in your hand and into tight places
• Handy 'Display Hold' button keeps measurements on the display
• Meter controls are positioned so current measurements can be done with one hand (index finger on clamp opening lever and thumb on rotary switch)
• Large, backlit display is easy-to-see in less than ideal conditions
• In-rush current function (on most models) for measuring starting current for motors, lighting, etc.
• Auto shut-off maximizes battery life so the meter works when you need it
• Improved low current measurement accuracy from new microprocessor technology

Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 5 business days.
Remember: Safety first!

ERC Featured Book

Name: Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization - Book Code: GW6

Authors: Lester Brown

Description:In this updated edition of the landmark Plan B, Lester Brown outlines a survival strategy for our early twenty-first-century civilization. The world faces many environmental trends of disruption and decline, including rising temperatures and spreading water shortage. In addition to these looming threats, we face the peaking of oil, annual population growth of 70 million, a widening global economic divide and a growing list of failing states. The scale and complexity of issues facing our fast-forward world have no precedent. With Plan A, business as usual, we have neglected these issues overly long. In Plan B 3.0, Lester R. Brown warns that the only effective response now is a World War II–type mobilization like that in the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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

To find prior editions of "Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center Lending Library" information, including DVD reviews, click here.

A Summary of Recent California Public Utilities Commission regulatory activity and what it means to the average consumer, business and/or public agency:

Energy Efficiency (R.06-04-010)

What’s this?
This is the forum for initiating the next planning cycle for 2009-2011 energy efficiency ( EE) program plans, funding levels and related issues.


What’s new? On April 16, the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC) issued Decision (D.) 09-04-026, again extending the statutory deadline for resolving this proceeding. The original deadline was December 31, 2008; however, due to the continuing need for review of activities related to the risk/reward incentive mechanism and verification of energy savings, this proceeding was unable to be resolved before the deadline. On January 29, the CPUC opened a new rulemaking, R.09-01-019, to consider risk/reward mechanisms. A second new rulemaking is expected to be opened shortly to deal with other energy efficiency issues going forward, and until this second new rulemaking is opened, there is a need for R.06-04-010 to remain open. Decision (D.) 09-01-027 was issued on January 29, extending the deadline to March 1. D.09-02-020 was issued on February 20, extending the deadline to April 30. D.09-04-026 again extends the deadline by 60 days to June 29.

California Solar Initiative, Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues (R.08-03-008)

What’s this?
This rulemaking continues the work of R.06-03-004, developing and refining policies, rules and programs for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP) and considering policies for the development of cost-effective, clean and reliable distributed generation ( DG).

What’s new?

CSI:On March 26, the CPUC issued its Decision Modifying D.07-11-045 regarding Low Income Single Family Solar Incentive Program within the California Solar Initiative. The Decision grants the petition to modify D.07-11-045 filed by PG&E to allow PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E to request cost recovery through an advice letter process for costs incurred to support the Single Family Affordable Solar Housing ( SASH) Program, but denies the petition to modify D.07-11-045 filed by the Department of Community Services and Development to allow third-party ownership of solar energy systems installed under the SASH Program.
On April 3, Southern California Edison Company ( SCE), on behalf of the CSI Program Administrators (PAs), filed SCE Advice Letter 2327-E-A / PG&E Advice Letter 3429-E-A / CCSE Advice Letter 6-A, a supplemental filing for proposing changes to the CSI Program Handbook to implement all requirements in Chapters 3 through 6 of the revised California Energy Commission Guidelines for California’s Solar Electric Incentive Program Pursuant to SB 1. The supplemental filing was to resolve issues identified by the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) in its March 24 protest on the basis that the advice letter did not fully incorporate the CEC Guidelines on energy efficiency for existing buildings and commercial new construction. On April 15, the CPUC Energy Division (ED) suspended the advice letter to allow ED staff to have an opportunity to seek additional information. If ED staff does not act on the advice letter within 60 days, a second suspension for 180 days will commence automatically. On April 17, DRA protested the supplemental advice letter, on the basis that while language from the CEC Guidelines was incorporated in accordance with its recommendations, the PAs did not add DRA’s other recommendations consistent with the CEC Guidelines and California’s Energy Action Plan (EAP). The PAs’ response to the Protest is due April 24.
On April 7, the Energy Division issued its approval and implementation guidelines for the CSI Program Administrators’ (PAs’) 2009 Interim Marketing and Outreach Plans, pursuant to D.07-05-047. The PAs' plans and approval guidelines are made publicly available on the CPUC’s website.

SGIP: On March 24, CCSE, on behalf of the SGIP Program Administrators (PAs), filed CCSE Advice Letter 5-A / PG&E Advice Letter 3406-E-A / SCE Advice Letter 2311-E-A / SoCalGas Advice Letter 3950-A, proposing additional amendments to the SGIP Handbook to revise the program by allowing advanced energy storage (AES) systems coupled with eligible self generation technologies to receive incentives. This supplemental advice letter addresses the concerns expressed by Utility Savings & Refund, LLC, who protested the original filing and withdrew its protest when advised that the SGIP PAs would file a supplemental advice letter to include the requirement that an AES system be able “to handle hundreds of partial discharge cycles each day” to be eligible for the program.

SWHPP: On April 1, CCSE submitted an addendum to the California Center for Sustainable Energy Solar Water Heating Pilot Program: Interim Evaluation Report. The addendum contains the results of the study completed by Itron using the cost-effectiveness methodology presented in Chapter 7 of the previously submitted Interim Evaluation Report. The results of this interim evaluation will help inform the CPUC of the status and impacts of incentives provided under the SWHPP, as well as aid the CPUC in deciding how to move forward with a statewide SWH incentive program.

Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (A.06-08-010)

What’s this?
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) seeks authority from the CPUC to construct a 500 kV transmission line in conjunction with several 230 kV transmission lines, expected to run 150 miles from the Imperial Valley to San Diego.

What’s new?
On March 20, the Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD) and SDG&E jointly filed an Amendment to their Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement, relating to issues pending in Phase III of this proceeding. (Phase III was initiated on August 1, when Assigned Commissioner Grueneich issued a revised Scoping Memo and Ruling / Order to Show Cause (OSC), ordering SDG&E to appear and show cause as to why it should not have fines and other sanctions imposed for alleged violations of CPUC Rule of Practice and Procedure 1.1 for misrepresenting key facts in this proceeding to CPUC Staff, and for failing to follow the requirements of Rule 8.3 by not filing proper ex parte notices.) The Amendment was filed in response to an e-mail ruling from Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Jean Vieth on March 13, requesting the parties provide clarification and an exhibit list of the documents the parties intend to be received into evidence, as discussed in Paragraph 8 of the proposed Settlement Agreement. In the Amendment, the parties clarified that the record should consist of the exhibits, appendices and other attachments to the OSC and SDG&E’s Answer to the OSC and stipulated to the admission of these documents into evidence without objection, so long as the proposed Settlement Agreement is approved without modification; but if it is not approved without modification, and the case proceeds to evidentiary hearings, the parties reserve the right to object to the admissibility of any party’s testimony.

On March 26, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club jointly filed a Motion to request judicial notice of a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision in regard to the rehearing of D.08-12-058, the decision granting SDG&E’s application to construct the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (Sunrise) using the Final Environmentally Superior Southern Route. On April 10, SDG&E filed a Response, opposing the Motion, contending that the FERC decision is not pertinent to how D.08-12-058 violates the California Environmental Quality Act ( CEQA) by failing to guarantee that at least a portion of the Sunrise Powerlink will be used to carry new sources of renewable energy, nor does it address renewable energy issues.

For a complete list of energy-related state and federal legislation, please visit our Web site at www.energycenter.org.