California Governor Signs Demand Response Legislation, Affirms State’s Clean Energy Leadership

(SACRAMENTO – September 29, 2014) On Friday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)-sponsored Senate Bill 1414 by Senator Lois Wolk. This bill accelerates the use of demand response, a voluntary, cost-effective tool that relies on people and technology, not polluting, water-intensive power plants, to meet the state’s rising electricity needs. Further, the Public Utilities Commission now has clear direction to consider demand response, not just fossil fuel investments, in planning how to balance and ensure reliability for the state’s power grid.

“Today’s announcement proves once again that California, with Governor Brown at the helm, is leading the nation’s clean energy economy and providing health, environmental, and economic benefits that Californians will enjoy for generations to come. Low-cost, zero-carbon demand response is a win across the spectrum that empowers families and businesses to lower their electricity bills, improves air quality, allows for more renewable energy, and enhances electric grid reliability.

“As California continues to modernize its power grid and grow its economy, EDF hopes to see the rest of the nation follow suit to advance the innovative technologies needed to create cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable power.”   

• Lauren Navarro-Treichler, EDF attorney and California senior manager, clean energy

“Today marks a turning point for the state of California. I thank the Governor for signing SB 1414 into law, helping to bring California up to speed with other states in implementing common-sense, cost-effective demand response programs to meet the needs of California residents and businesses.

“Demand response programs will not only enable Californians to get rebates in exchange for reducing their electricity use during times of peak energy demand, but will reduce the need for costly and polluting power plants that run only when there is peak demand for electricity. This is a great step forward for California’s energy policy.”

• Senator Lois Wolk, D-Davis, author of the bill