Support for Energy Efficiency

Pasadena Water and Power pledged its support for a cleaner, greener nation this summer, joining numerous electric and gas utilities, state policy makers and other leaders in backing the new National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.

Presented by the California Public Utilities Commission, the plan aims to preserve natural resources, cut greenhouse gases, save money for consumers and set goals for energy efficiency. PWP signed the pact to demonstrate broad support for the nationwide effort.

The document was crafted by a leadership group designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, based on successful energy efficiency programs already in place across the country. It calls on gas and electric utilities, like PWP, to recognize energy efficiency as a priority and to commit to promoting energy efficiency programs among customers. If fully implemented, experts say, the plan could help defer the need for 40 new 500-megawatt power plants, prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of over 35 million vehicles, lower the costs of air pollution controls and cut the price of natural gas.

With our growing portfolio of clean, green power, generous rebates on energy saving appliances, a residential solar power program and energy efficiency incentives for developers and building owners, PWP is already at the front of the pack.

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Clean Power from Landfill

An aging landfill in West Covina is the new source of clean, green power for Pasadena.
Trash breaks down in landfills, creating potent emissions including methane. The Minnesota Methane plant, located at the BKK/West Covina Landfill, diverts this methane and uses it to produce electricity. This helps reduce greenhouse gases and offsets the need for
"non-green" power plants that burn fossil fuel.

Support the cause by switching to green power for an additional charge of just 2.5¢ per kilowatt hour through PWP’s ongoing "Go Green!" program. Residential customers can choose a $5, $10 or all-green option; commercial customers can switch part of or their entire monthly load.

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Cool Weather Savings

Chilly weather will soon be creeping into your home. Stay warm, conserve energy and save money with these simple tips from PWP:

• Properly installed insulation is the single most effective way of conserving energy. It's like wrapping a thermal blanket around your home. (R-30 is recommended for ceilings and R-19 for walls.)

• Weather-strip your doors, windows and any other spots where air leaks in or out.

• Set your furnace/heater thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night.

• Check your thermostat regularly to make sure it's working properly.

• Clean or replace filters regularly to keep your heater running efficiently.

• Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets, which can waste significant amounts of water and energy.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs),which produce the same quality of light but last up to eight times longer and use up to 75 percent less energy. (Read lamp directions carefully to make sure a CFL is compatible.)

• Don't block vents or heating units with furniture or drapes.

• Use appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers only when they are full.

• Check for air leaks in all ductwork.

• Close window coverings at night to limit heat loss; open them during the day to let sunshine in.

• When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper closed.

New Groundwater Storage Reservoir Designed

Pasadena Water and Power recently took a big step in creating a groundwater storage reservoir that will hold nearly 25 billion gallons of water to be used during future droughts and emergencies. PWP was responsible for the preliminary engineering design and environmental documentation for the project; costs were reimbursed by Metropolitan Water District.

The agreement is part of the ongoing Raymond Basin Conjunctive Use Program, created by MWD, the city of Pasadena, Foothill Municipal Water District and Raymond Basin Management Board to boost our local water supply.

Raymond Basin is a 40-square-mile natural underground aquifer that runs from La Cañada to Santa Anita Canyon and from the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains to the Raymond fault near the Pasadena/South Pasadena border. The basin is normally fed by mountain runoff from the Arroyo Seco, Eaton Canyon and other streams, collecting about 30,000 acre-feet each year. PWP diverts water from the Arroyo Seco to spreading ponds east of the Devil's Gate Reservoir. Sixteen utilities, including PWP, have rights to pump water from the basin, which is managed by the Raymond Basin Management Board.

MWD is making the most of the aquifer's unused capacity by asking PWP to reduce its groundwater pumping and inject water into the Raymond Basin, taking more MWD-imported Northern California and Colorado River water during non-drought years. During drought years, PWP will pump the stored water, reducing the need to take water from MWD.

The new reservoir will store up to 75,000 acre-feet of water, giving Pasadena and Southern California more protection against water shortages, a more reliable water supply and more flexibility. While MWD will fund construction, the facilities will be built, owned and operated by PWP and FMWD.

PWP will need to install three new groundwater wells and restore to service wells affected by perchlorate contamination. The preliminary design and environmental documentation is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.