California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: A.07-01-024

CPUC AUGMENTS FUNDING FOR PILOT
WATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

SAN FRANCISCO, November 21, 2008 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today allocated $1.33 million for pilot energy efficiency programs between the state's investor-owned utilities and CPUC-regulated water companies.

The CPUC's Water Action Plan calls for strengthening water conservation programs to a level comparable to the energy efficiency achieved by energy utilities. The Water Action Plan specifically calls for a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption by water utilities, emphasizes the importance of reducing the amount of energy needed by water utilities for water pumping, purification systems, and other water processes such as desalination, and encourages programs to reduce energy waste by water utilities from causes such as system leaks, poorly maintained equipment, defective meters, unused machines left idling, and improperly operated systems.

A previous CPUC decision set a three-prong energy efficiency strategy: 1) conserve water, 2) use less energy intensive water, and 3) make delivery and treatment systems more efficient. Today's decision augments the funding originally allocated in that previous decision by approving six pilot programs that will measure the energy saving potential of more efficient pumps, motors, and variable frequency drives associated with supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA Systems).

"We are committed to comprehensiveness in our pursuit of economy-wide energy savings. These pilots explore an important and largely untapped opportunity at the nexus of water and energy use," said Commissioner Dian M. Grueneich.

Added Commissioner John Bohn, "By saving water or delivering and treating it more efficiently, it is possible to produce energy savings. These programs are consistent with our energy efficiency objectives and help us understand embedded energy in the use of water."

The proposal voted on is at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/AGENDA_DECISION/94020.htm.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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