California energy utilities can spend nearly $2 billion over the next two years on energy efficiency programs, following authorization Thursday from the state regulatory commission. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said the action for 2013-2014 programs will deliver overall savings that prevent the need for two new natural gas-fired power plants and will save “significant” amounts of gas. In addition to approving individual plans for the state’s four major investor-owned utilities and community choice aggregators, the CPUC created two regional energy networks for the San Francisco Bay area and Southern California to complement the utility efforts. CPUC members said the latest plans, budgeted at $1.9 billion, will refocus on “deeper, longer-lasting” results.

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