SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, San
Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the California Independent
System Operator Corp. (ISO), and the California Energy Commission
announced that sufficient electricity supplies are available to
meet regional energy needs this summer. Customers, however, may be
called to conserve in the event of an unexpected power emergency,
such as much hotter than expected weather or the unplanned loss of
a power plant or transmission line.
"Our mission is to ensure safe and reliable energy to our nearly
3.4 million customers," said Steven D.
Davis, president and chief operating officer for SDG&E.
"As the weather continues to warm, energy demand increases due to
more air conditioning use. Despite having adequate electric
resources to meet that demand, conditions may change anytime due to
unexpected situations that may require our customers to
conserve."
"The ISO's recent assessment of summer conditions show we have
adequate electricity resources to meet California's needs this summer, even with the
severe drought and high demand expected over this warm summer,"
said Steve Berberich, ISO's
president and chief executive officer. "The ISO is committed to a
reliable grid, and we will keep a close watch on the system,
especially in Southern California
where fires, high demand and transmission congestion can present
challenges. Consumers also play a vital role in keeping the system
reliable by voluntarily conserving power when a Flex Alert is
called."
"While recent summers have delivered relatively mild weather,
active collaboration between California's energy agencies, SDG&E,
Southern California Edison and the California Independent System
Operator has ensured adequate electricity supply for what may be
warmer temperatures ahead," said Drew
Bohan, chief deputy director of the California Energy
Commission. "We need residents and businesses to play their part by
conserving energy and water, especially when Flex Alerts are issued
as a way to help maintain service reliability during short and
prolonged heat waves."
Over the past several years, SDG&E has increased the
reliability of the local grid through new and improved
infrastructure, such as the new East
County substation project. Customer Service enhancements
include the recently launched Reduce Your Use Thermostat program
that provides programmable communicating thermostats to eligible
customers, free of charge, and when installed offers a higher bill
credit on Reduce Your Use Rewards days.
SDG&E also recommends these tips to save on energy use and
costs especially during the summer:
- Adjust your thermostat. Set it to 78F for summer
AC.
- Use smart strips or unplug items when not in use.
- Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent or
LEDs.
- Use motion sensors on outdoor lighting to save up to 50%
of lighting costs.
- Seal and insulate your home to keep the cool air in
during summer.
- Lower your water temperature or try a cold water wash
with clothes, especially if you have an electric water heater.
- Change out a single speed pool pump to a variable speed
one.
For more energy-saving tips, visit sdge.com/save-money or call
800-411-7343.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and
reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4
million electric meters and 868,000 natural gas meters in
San Diego and southern
Orange counties. The utility's
area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to
creating ways to help customers save energy and money every
day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a
Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. Connect with SDG&E's Customer
Contact Center at 800-411-7343, on Twitter (@SDGE) and
Facebook.
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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)