ROSEMEAD, Calif., Aug. 29, 2003 — For the first time, renewable energy sources represented as much as 23% of Southern California Edison’s (SCE) total monthly power sales this summer, strengthening SCE’s position as the leading U.S. purchaser of electricity produced with alternate sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy as well as power from small hydroelectric facilities.
“We have surpassed the state’s new 20% standard for utility renewable procurement 14 years early,” said SCE Chairman John E. Bryson. “We did so because of our long-standing commitment to renewable energy resources that offer important environmental and economic benefits to our customers.”
Senate Bill (SB) 1078, adopted in fall 2002, requires California’s three investor-owned utilities to increase their procurement of electricity generated from renewable resources annually by 1% of retail sales until a target of 20% is reached by 2017.
SCE is seeking to add cost-effective resources to its renewable power portfolio. The utility released today a Request For Offers (RFO) soliciting 10-, 15-, or 20-year contracts with renewable energy projects. Prospective participants in the solicitation can download details of the RFO at www.sce.com/renewablerfo.
On a hot summer day, SCE’s 4.5 million business and residential customers typically need more than 18,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. (A megawatt is enough power to serve about 750 homes.) Approximately 150 independent renewable power producers currently under contract to SCE can generate more than 2,500 MW of the power utility customers need, more than the total amount of renewable power procured by all other California utilities combined.
Comparison of U.S. Renewable Power Procurers
— SCE by itself procures approximately 13,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy per year, more than any state except for California. (A gigawatt equals one billion watts.)
— California utilities lead the nation in renewable energy procurement purchasing a combined total of approximately 23,000 GWh/yr.
— Florida ranks second nationally with approximately 5,000 GWh/yr. (2001 reports).
— All U.S. utilities combined procure approximately 78,000 GWh of renewable energy per year (2001 reports).
*The percentage of SCE power represented by renewable power providers reached a record 23% in June after setting a record of 22% in May. The percentage varies depending on factors such as customer demand and the availability of intermittent power sources such as solar, wind and hydro.
An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 12 million via 4.5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.
