electric

San Diego Gas and Electric Co. has expanded the number of customers potentially eligible for its low-income energy-saving programs to comply with changes in state income guidelines. The Sempra Energy utility calls its expanded program the “Energy Team” program, featuring various home energy-savings-improvement services. Energy Team offers income-qualified renters and homeowners no-cost services that include: door weather-stripping and caulking; ceiling insulation; low-flow showerheads; and energy-efficient refrigerators, along with other minor home repairs that can reduce energy use. Last year, more than 11,000 qualified customers received a variety of home-weatherization services, SDG&E said. New income guidelines established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) were effective last June 1, permitting household incomes of $28,000 for one- and two-person households, up to a maximum of $54,300 annual incomes for households of six or more. For each household member above the six, another $6,900 of income can be added. The income levels were adjusted by the CPUC, effective June 1, to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines.

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. (SCE&G), which provides natural gas to about 294,000 customers, on Thursday requested an overall 3.26% increase to its gas base rates from the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSC). The filing is the SCANA Corp. subsidiary’s first under a 2005 state law designed to reduce the volatility of customer rates by allowing for recovery of costs associated with maintaining and expanding infrastructure.

Pacific Gas & Electric issued a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO for Thursday, setting penalties of $1/Dth for exceeding a 5% tolerance on positive daily imbalances.

Potomac Electric Power Co. (Pepco) and Mirant Corp. have reached a proposed settlement of all litigation between the companies arising from Mirant’s 2003 bankruptcy and related matters.

After starting last week by issuing a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO, Pacific Gas & Electric ended the week with another one. The OFO declared for Saturday set penalties of $1/Dth for deliveries into its system exceeding a 5% tolerance for daily positive imbalances. PG&E’s neighbor to the south, Southern California Gas, extended its own high-linepack OFO that was implemented Wednesday through at least a fourth day Saturday.

As the once halcyon Enron era draws to a conclusion in a Houston federal court room, 2,000 miles to the northwest at the Oregon headquarters of Portland General Electric (PGE) utility employees are rubbing their eyes and wondering if it was all real — those eight years as a subsidiary of Enron Corp.

After issuing a customer-specific OFO for Monday, Pacific Gas & Electric broadened it into a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO for Tuesday. PG&E set noncompliance charges of $1/Dth for exceeding a daily positive imbalance tolerance of 2% (the customer-specific order had the same charges but the tolerance level was 5%).

A week after rolling blackouts hit parts of the state, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) executives last week got an earful from senators who made it clear their patience has worn thin with controversies and bickering surrounding the organization.

Pacific Gas & Electric issued a systemwide Stage 2 low-inventory OFO for Tuesday, setting penalties of $1/Dth for negative daily imbalances exceeding a tolerance of 5%.