CPUC Approves Formation of Central California Rural Regional Energy Network: $36 Million Investment to Expand Energy Efficiency Services for Disadvantaged and Underserved Communities
Author: Planning and Building
Date: 10/9/2024 2:51 PM
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), on September 26, 2024, approved the formation of a Central California Rural Regional Energy Network (Central California Rural REN) to expand access to energy efficiency services for primarily disadvantaged, underserved, and hard-to-reach communities in Central California.
Starting in the first quarter of 2025, a five-member partnership, encompassing public and non-profit agencies with decades of experience implementing energy programs in their regions, will collaborate on programs funded by a three-year investment of more than $36 million. The Central California Rural REN will bring energy efficiency programs to public, commercial and residential ratepayers in 14 counties and will serve more than 5.4 million customers, or 13.5% of California’s population, spanning almost 49,000 square miles.
According to Bruce Gibson, the 2nd District Supervisor of the County of San Luis Obispo, “The County of San Luis Obispo is proud to deliver much needed energy efficiency programming to Central California, in partnership with agencies who know their communities and how to effectively deliver energy services. This large geographic area of California has often been overlooked resulting in a lower uptake of program benefits. We aim to remedy that with successful programs and support to residents, businesses, and building professionals across the region.”
Energy efficiency is an integral part of meeting California’s aggressive decarbonization policies and goals to combat climate change, yet the most vulnerable of utility customers often do not have equitable access to energy efficiency programs in which they pay to their utility every month. The average energy burden in the Central California Rural REN region is 54% higher than the rest of California. The availability of newly funded and locally implemented program offerings will help customers access workforce education and training, energy codes and standards training, as well as energy assessments, rebates, incentives and financing options for energy efficient equipment.
Central California Rural Regional Energy Network member organizations include the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments and County of San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast; the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization in the San Joaquin Valley; and the High Sierra Energy Foundation in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region. The County of Ventura is a non-implementing member of the Central California Rural REN leadership team.
