 took top honors in the 2021 CMUA Resource Efficiency & Community Service Awards){kind=link}
Publicly owned utility takes first place for innovative Energy Efficiency Grant Program for Small Businesses
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is one of nine publicly owned electric utilities and water agencies that took top honors in the 2021 CMUA Resource Efficiency & Community Service Awards for outstanding projects advancing best practices and innovative ideas in the water and power industry.
SVP took first place among the large-size utilities in the Energy Programs category for its innovative Energy Efficiency Grant Program for Small Businesses. SVP committed $1 million in energy efficiency grants for small businesses impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic.
“…SVP continues to achieve energy savings and carbon reductions.”
Manuel Pineda, chief electric utility officer SVP
Grant funding up to $10,000
Eligible customers can receive up to $10,000 in grant funding for energy efficiency upgrades to help lower operating costs by reducing electric consumption. The projects may have other non-energy benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs. Eligible projects include but are not limited to lighting, HVAC, HVAC controls, and foodservice equipment upgrades. In addition to assisting small businesses to lower their operating costs, the program also helped keep contractors working.
“This program design was a ‘win-win-win’ where the customer sees reduced operating costs, the contractor continues to work, and SVP continues to achieve energy savings and carbon reductions.” said Manuel Pineda, chief electric utility officer for Silicon Valley Power.
Sacramento among First Place Winners
Selected by an independent panel of judges made up of executives from energy and water agencies. The first-place winners include projects and programs from the Eastern Municipal Water District, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, City of Healdsburg Electric Department, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Orange County Water District, Redding Electric Utility, Mesa Water District, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities, and Silicon Valley Power.
Scoring Criteria
The judges scored each nominated project or program in four areas
- the program’s overall concept and implementation
- originality, creativity and innovativeness
- promotion of efficient use of natural resources and/or serving local community needs; and
- benefits to customers and/or the community.
“These awards show how we’re continuing to support and advance California’s resource efficiency goals while providing quality service and innovative solutions to our customers, even in the most difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said CMUA Executive Director Barry Moline. “I’m proud of CMUA members for taking the initiative.”
About Silicon Valley Power
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is the trademark adopted for use by the not-for-profit electric municipal utility of Santa Clara, CA, serving residents and businesses for over 120 years. SVP provides power to nearly 55,000 customers at rates 25 to 48 percent below neighboring communities. SVP is the only full-service, vertically integrated publicly owned utility in Silicon Valley owning generation, transmission and distribution assets. Visit SiliconValleyPower.com for more.