Energy Officials Ask Customers to 'Become Your Own Nuclear Plant'

With last week's announcement of the closing of the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS) San Diego Gas & Electric is encouraging customers to aid in the region's energy efficiency, as the summer approaches. 

In a news conference Tuesday, SDG&E representatives, along with representatives from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and others, discussed their summer preparedness plan, which includes customer-initiated energy savings contingencies. 

"With the permanent closing of SONGS, we are going to be asking the people of San Diego to become their own nuclear power plant," said Commissioner Catherine J.K. Sandoval of CPUC. "They can do that by making smart energy decisions."

Despite having "adequate reserve margins," in the energy grid statewide,  SDG&E Chairman and CEO Jessie Knight told conference attendees that "San Diego and southern Orange County faces local reliability concerns" with the closing of San Onofre.

Knight also said that due to limited rainfall in the region, increased threat of wildfire could threaten high voltage power lines the grid's flow of imported power.

"It is exceptionally dry this year," said Knight," one of the most extensive droughts in quite some time."

SDG&E's projected peak demand is about 4,600 MW, under normal conditions. However, "extreme" weather conditions could  trigger peak demand of about 5,100 MW.

With the closing of San Onofre – which provided roughly 440 MW to the region – accommodating for that peak demand could lie with consumers. 

SDG&E offers customers several tips that can save energy, and in turn help them save money on their bills – bills which rates will be increasing by as much as 12 percent in September, the utility company announced last month. 

Some of those tips include:

• Replace regular light bulbs with CFL or LED bulbs – these bulbs use 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. 
• Power down your electronic devices – using power strips for flat-screen TVs, DVD players and gaming consoles, and unplugging them when not in use can save up to $300 a year. 
• Adjust your thermostat – Set your thermostat to 78 degrees for summer AC and 68 degrees for winter heat, health permitting.