California to Explore Residential Rate Design
Residential rates and rate design have traditionally been a bit of a “sacred cow” in California that regulators have simply chosen not to mess with. But no more. On Monday, I attended the first workshop in the new residential rate design rulemaking at the Commission (R.12-06-013) that is aimed at determining the appropriate policy directives in … Continue reading
Proposed Decision Adopting Metrics to Measure Smart Grid Deployments
The California Public Utilities Commission released a much awaited proposed decision on March 20th regarding metrics to measure the deployment of the smart grid in the PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E service territories. The consensus metrics can be found in Attachment A to the proposed decision. The consensus consists of 19 metrics that the utilities will report … Continue reading
PG&E Unveils Customer Data Access Project
PG&E filed an application at the California Public Utilities Commission requesting $19.4 million to fund the project to provide third parties with access to a customers’ electricity usage data (when authorized by the customer) as part of its Customer Data Access Project. Following the Commissioner’s earlier decision regarding privacy and security restrictions on customer data, … Continue reading
SmartMeter Program May Now Have an Opt-Out Option
After a persistent and vocal outcry by anti-SmartMeter activists, the Commission has released a proposed decision that will be voted on at its next meeting (this coming Thursday) that will allow those who want to go back to the good ol’ days of the analog meter. No more RF radiation for those who who don’t … Continue reading
CPUC Smart Grid Decision Aims to Protect Customer Privacy
On May 6, the CPUC issued a proposed decision adopting rules to protect the privacy and security of the electricity usage data from smart meters. Its but one piece of the broader smart grid rulemaking taking place at the CPUC. This is an important discussion—“we” (as in the energy-using public) want our privacy protected, but … Continue reading
Will Electric Cars Bring Down the Grid?
I saw a tweet from SDG&E (@SDGE) a few days ago asking Nissan Leaf electric car owners to share information so that SDG&E can track the electrical system in their area to support the cars. SDG&E is preparing for an influx of Nissan Leafs and is girding up to create a smarter grid in time. … Continue reading
