PG&E Summer 2014 Newsletter

  • by BPC Staff
  • on September 12, 2014
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Summer 2014 Edition
PG&E Recognized as a National Leader in Solar Power
 
 
PG&E has been recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), earning the top spot in SEPA’s solar industry report for the sixth year in a row. PG&E earned its top ranking in the Solar Megawatts category with more than 1,400 megawatts of solar power installed.
 
“We are firmly committed to renewable energy and solar is a vital part of California’s energy mix,” said Steve Malnight, PG&E’s vice president of Customer Energy Solutions. “Given both PG&E’s large-scale solar procurement and our customers’ ongoing support of solar and other clean technologies, we are confident we will continue to be a renewable energy leader.”
 
PG&E delivers some of the cleanest energy in the nation, with more than 55 percent of the energy coming from sources which emit no greenhouse gases, to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. PG&E continues to expand its use of clean energy, and expects to have approximately 64% of energy delivered to come from renewable sources by the year 2020.
 
“Congratulations to PG&E for being one of the top utilities to integrate solar power and provide clean renewable solar energy as an option for utility customers,” said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA.
 
 
 
Government Relations Team Honored
 
PG&E’s East Bay Government Relations Team was recently named “Business People of the Year” by Oakland’s esteemed “Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation”.
 
PG&E is proud to partner with the Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation to provide safe, clean and well-maintained parks and recreation centers for all Oakland residents. One of our goals in financially supporting our community partners is to promote a company priority to reduce our carbon footprint. Expanding green spaces and parks is a great way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and also improves the community. 
 
 
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Pacific Gas and
Electric Company
1330 Broadway
Oakland, California 94612
510-437-2555
 
 
 
Pipeline Pathway
 
PG&E and East Bay city managers have agreed on a framework of principles for PG&E’s Pipeline Pathways project. The framework of principles is a positive step forward for PG&E and the East Bay as PG&E continues its important safety work to remove trees that pose a safety risk to our natural gas pipelines. The framework will be used to guide individual project agreements with each of the East Bay cities.
 
The Pipeline Pathways project represents PG&E’s commitment to the public safety of our customers and employees. PG&E will be checking the area above our 6,750 mile natural gas transmission pipeline system and working cooperatively with cities, neighborhoods, and property owners to enhance safety by reducing risks to the integrity of the pipeline and improve access for PG&E to do safety work. The improved access will allow PG&E to more safely maintain, inspect, and operate the system of natural gas pipelines in the East Bay. 
 
 
 
PG&E Begins Providing Electrical Service to Former Hercules Municipal Utility Customers
 
Earlier this spring, PG&E began providing electrical service to former Hercules Municipal Utility (HMU) customers. After a long process of trying to sell the HMU to a utility company with the ability to provide electrical services on a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective basis, the City of Hercules approved the sale of the HMU to PG&E.
 
PG&E will begin by investing in upgrades to modernize the former HMU electric facilities, keeping it in line with the investments PG&E has made to its system throughout the year. With PG&E customers experiencing the fewest minutes without electricity and the fewest service interruptions in company history last year, customers in Hercules can be assured of the reliable service that PG&E provides.
 
The sale relieves the city of Hercules of the debt incurred by the HMU, and allows the city to focus on core city services. At the same time, most former HMU customers will see a reduction in their electric rates go down.
 
“The city of Hercules looks forward to starting a new chapter – one where our community and residents thrive. We feel our partnership with PG&E is the right choice for the future of Hercules,” said Hercules Mayor Myrna de Vera. “We believe this transition will meet the needs of our customers and will provide the service and reliability our residents and businesses deserve.”
 
 
 
PG&E Testing New Safety Monitoring Technology for Gas Pipelines
 
At its Applied Technology Service facilities in San Ramon, PG&E recently demonstrated new safety technology the company has been testing for its natural gas pipeline system. The new sensor system, called the Real-time Active Pipeline Integrity Detection (RAPID) developed by Silicon Valley-based Acellent Technologies Inc., was designed to remotely monitor the structural health of pipelines by identifying potential concerns such as corrosion, cracks, or other damage.

The RAPID system works by embedding tiny sensors between strips of flexible film, which are wrapped around the outside of steel pipes. RAPID could one day provide PG&E with real-time detailed information about the condition of its pipelines, especially in locations that are particularly susceptible to damage. PG&E’s gas operations’ engineers will get an advance warning if any damage to the pipe occurs.

A data acquisition box sits atop a test pipe wrapped
with sensors and covered with protective fiberglass (yellow bands) as part of new technology to remotely monitor pipeline health.
At the demonstration, two simulated areas of corrosion were installed on the test pipe. The RAPID system located, measured, and identified the depth of the corrosion. As a next step, PG&E will verify the accuracy of RAPID’s findings using a laser scanner.

With further testing planned for the new system, PG&E expects RAPID to be finalized by the end of 2015.

“Innovation is critical to improving gas safety, reliability, and affordability”, said Francois Rongere, PG&E’s research & development and innovation manager in gas operations. The RAPID system is one of many cutting-edge technologies that PG&E is exploring for its natural gas system.
 
 
Welcome Eunice Garcia
 
PG&E would like to introduce Eunice Barnett Garcia as the Division Leadership Team (DLT) Sr. Manager for East Bay Division. Eunice will be leading the East Bay Division Energy Solutions & Services (ES&S).

PG&E’s Energy Solutions & Service (ES&S) organization is responsible for managing PG&E’s relationships with its customers and communities. The organization is charged with delivering PG&E’s programs and services, achieving energy savings’ goals, and resolving complex gas and electric service issues. ES&S is the internal advocate for customers and communities and drives continuous improvement that enhances customer satisfaction through exceptional customer experiences. 

Eunice is coming from leading both the San Francisco and North Bay Division ES&S teams and previously led the Peninsula Division ES&S team concurrently since 2012. She has over a decade of experience in account management and customer service and has a proven talent for building strategic relationships with governments, partners and communities
particularly in the area of sustainable communities. In particular she oversaw the establishment of the East Bay Environmental Network (EBEN), an alliance between 15 universities, businesses and governments across the greater East Bay. Eunice holds a BA in Sustainable Development & Intercultural Studies from Biola University and an MBA in Sustainable Management from The Presidio Graduate School.
 
 
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