SCE transmission project approved for continuation, alongside $1.6bn SCE smart meter programme

18 December 2009

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved electricity utility Southern California Edison’s (SCE) application to build further segments of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project.

With operation planned for 2014, SCE already has started building the first three segments of the Tehachapi project, including a series of new and upgraded high-voltage electric transmission lines to deliver electricity from new wind farms in the Tehachapi wind source area north of Los Angeles to customers and the California power grid.

When all phases are developed, the Tehachapi project will include transmission lines capable of delivering 4,500MW of electricity from wind farms and generating companies in Northern Los Angeles and Eastern Kern counties.

‘This important CPUC decision will enable SCE to tap into additional supplies of clean wind energy to help improve the environment and reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy,’ said Les Starck, SCE vice president for local public affairs.

SCE is also installing smart electric meters throughout the San Gabriel Valley as part of the $1.6bn Edison SmartConnect programme, authorised by the California Public Utilities Commission. SEC customers across Montebello, Alhambra, East Los Angeles, El Monte, Monterey Park, Industry, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Pico Rivera and Whittier will be receiving the new meters through the spring of 2010. Since the first meter was installed in Downey, California in September, installations will continue through 2012 in the utility’s 50,000 square mile service territory.

Within the next year, SCE says it will roll out new pricing plans, and in 2010 the meters will be able to communicate with the next generation of smart thermostats, appliances and other devices. Corix Utilities is contracted to perform most of the installations.

Southern California Edison is an NYSE-listed Edison International company serving California.

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: energy efficiency, smart meter, transmission, wind

This story was published on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 11:59 am and is filed under North America, companies, energy efficiency. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply