California

Tranche Warfare

The experts do battle over capacity market design.

A FERC conference this fall aired new major policy options for capacity markets. Amid the battle, ISOs are making tactical adjustments.

Energy Efficiency Unknowns

Making efficiency programs work requires understanding real-world behavior.

Efficiency programs often fall short because they don’t account for human behavior. Systematic studies with randomized trials can bring better results.

PG&E, MidAmerican Transmission, Citizens Energy to Develop 70-mile Electric Transmission Line

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), MidAmerican Transmission and Citizens Energy were chosen by the California Independent System Operator (ISO) to develop, own and operate a new transmission line in the Central Valley region of California. The 230- kV line will span about 70 miles across Fresno, Madera and Kings counties, running from the Gates to Gregg substations, which are owned and operated by PG&E.

Southern Power and Partner Turner Renewable Energy to Acquire California Solar Plant

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power acquired the company's second solar PV installation in California – the 20-MW Adobe Solar Facility – in partnership with Turner Renewable Energy. The Southern Power-Turner Renewable Energy partnership's sixth solar project acquisition is expected to close upon the successful completion of construction, which is anticipated in spring 2014. The Adobe Solar Facility will be built, operated and maintained by SunEdison.

CPUC Orders PG&E Pipeline Out of Service Until Investigation is Complete

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) directed Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to keep its natural gas pipeline number 147, which runs through the City of San Carlos, out of service until CPUC staff verifies the safety of the pipeline. The CPUC’s safety and enforcement division has initiated a staff investigation to determine whether any immediate safety concerns are posed by the pipeline. This investigation will result in public findings, required corrective action if necessary, and citations for any violation of law or regulation.

The Carlyle Group to Acquire Six Power Plants in California, New Jersey

The Carlyle Group agreed to acquire the Red Oak power generation facility in Sayreville, New Jersey, and has separately closed on the purchase of five power plants in California. The acquisitions were executed in conjunction with Carlyle’s power affiliate Cogentrix. Red Oak, which is being acquired from Energy Capital Partners, is an 823-MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant located in Sayreville, New Jersey.

Digest

ComEd selects GE for 4 million smart meters; Duquesne contracts Itron for 625,000 smart meters; Consumers Energy plans 700-MW combined-cycle plant; Phoenix Solar contracts for 39-MW PV plant; NRG starts operation at two 20-MW PV plants in California; Edison files suit against Mitsubishi for SONGS defects; FirstEnergy plans 2 GW of coal-plant shutdowns; FERC approves PacifiCorp tie-in with Cal ISO; PSEG commissions EV-charging facilities; plus announcements and contracts involving Toshiba, Direct Energy, Alstom, and others.

Two New Calpine Power Plants Begin Commercial Operations in California

Calpine began commercial operations at its Russell City Energy Center and Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility, both located in the San Francisco Bay area. Together, the two plants bring on-line more than 900 MW of combined-cycle natural gas-fired power generation capacity. The full power output of both plants will be delivered to Calpine’s customer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which will also supply the natural gas fuel, under 10-year power purchase agreements.

Big Data, Big Change

Analytics chart a path for industry transformation.

“Without integrating operational data with traditional IT data, I don’t think the industry would be any further along than it was five or 10 years ago.” ~Steve Ehrlich, Space Time Insight

AMI Logjam

Market forces and fickle policies have delayed the smart meter revolution.

Low energy prices have weakened the business case for advanced metering. Regaining momentum might depend on innovation to strengthen the benefits.