« Back

May 2, 2007

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POWER AUTHORITY'S COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY PROGRAM IS FIRST TO BE CERTIFIED IN THE STATE

Fresno, CA -- On May 1, 2007, the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority (Authority) was notified by Executive Director Steve Larson of the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) that the Authority's Implementation Plan for Community Choice was certified making it the first such Plan in the State to receive certification.

"It is encouraging to see that Commission has confirmed that our plan meets the requirements set forth by the law (AB 117) that established Community Choice Aggregation," stated Tom Haglund Hanford's Deputy City Manager and the Authority's chair. "This certification by the Commission is major accomplishment and moves Community Choice much closer to being able to provide benefits to the communities, businesses and residents in our region."

The certification letter further notes that the Implementation Plan reflects modifications made by the Authority following consultation by Authority representatives with representatives from Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison Company.

"The Implementation Plan reflects several years of thoughtful planning and consideration on how to successfully provide an energy program that can add value to the electrical service for the customers in our region" stated David Orth, Kings River Conservation District (KRCD) General Manager and the Authority's program manager. "Addressing the investor-owned utilities concerns strengthens our Community Choice program and the achievement of our objectives to increase energy reliability, provide residents and businesses savings and stability on their electrical bills, and provide for local input and control over regional energy issues."

On January 25, 2007, Authority Directors approved the Community Choice Aggregation Implementation Plan, which was subsequently submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission by KRCD on behalf of the Authority on January 29. The Plan's content includes discussions on organizational structure, program implementation, resources utilization, rate setting and participant rights.

AB 117, passed in 2002, allows cities and counties to combine the electrical loads of their constituents for bulk electricity purchases. An opt-out structure is provided for customers choosing to continue buying power directly from the investor-owned utility. For customers participating in a Community Choice program, the local utility company will continue to deliver the electricity purchased by the regional Community Choice program through its wires and will also continue to provide meter reading, billing, maintenance and customer services.

The Authority was formed in November 2006 to develop and conduct electricity-related programs for the region. San Joaquin Valley Power Authority Member Agency List: Kings County, cities of Clovis, Corcoran, Dinuba, Fresno, Kerman, Kingsburg, Lemoore, Hanford, Parlier, Reedley, Selma, and Sanger.

The Kings River Conservation District is a public agency that serves agricultural, business, and community residents within 1.2 million acres in portions of Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties since 1951. KRCD is a leading resource management agency in the areas of water, power and the environment for the Kings River service area.

For more information, visit the following websites:

Community Choice Implementation Plan: www.communitychoice.info

San Joaquin Valley Power Authority: www.communitychoice.info

Kings River Conservation District: www.krcd.org

###