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OMWD, San Diego Gas and Electric, and University of California, Riverside were notified in early February that their joint grant proposal was selected and recommended for funding by the California Energy Commission staff. The $3 million grant was then approved at a CEC business meeting last week following a formal presentation of the proposal, entitled “Bringing Energy Efficiency Solutions to California’s Water Sector with the Use of Customized Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems.”

Bob Topolovac, OMWD’s Vice President, stated: “Moving water is one of the most energy-intensive activities in California. The State Water Project, for example, is the largest user of energy in the state. This energy efficiency project is something that we can do at the local level to reduce the carbon footprint of each drop that we serve, and it also helps to minimize the costs to our ratepayers.”

CEC administers several research and development programs, including the Electric Program Investment Charge, through which the grant will be funded. EPIC funds innovative programs that provide such benefits to electric ratepayers in SDG&E’s service territory as greater reliability, lower costs, increased safety, and enhanced environmental sustainability. Specifically, this project will explore alternatives for automated operating systems to achieve energy efficiencies.

“This collaboration is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to protect the environment and to find sustainable solutions that will allow our customers to save water, energy, and money,” said Caroline Winn, vice president of customer services for SDG&E. “Through this grant and this partnership, we will be able to continue our contribution to a more sustainable future.”

“Sustainability is one of the core tenets of OMWD’s mission. Not only does the partnership with SDG&E, UC Riverside, and CEC help us achieve this mission, but our partners are able to achieve their goals as well,” explained Kimberly Thorner, OMWD’s General Manager. “This is another example of utility providers and government agencies doing the right thing—working together to best leverage our funds for public benefit.”

The grant is one of only eight awarded to California entities from a total of 49 abstracts received by CEC.

CEC, established by the legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. CEC focuses on promoting energy efficiency, conservation, and development of energy research throughout California.