Industry and Local Government Leaders Create Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, City of San Jose and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that they have partnered to create the Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force.  The group brings leaders from industry, the public sector, non-profits and academia together to make recommendations on California's energy efficiency efforts and the rollout of Smart Grid technology.

The task force, which was announced at the 2010 Silicon Valley Energy Summit co-hosted by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group at Stanford University's Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, will aim to better educate the public about smart grid technology and its importance in aiding California's long-term environmental sustainability and energy efficiency goals.  As first steps, the Smart Grid Task Force will commission a study to investigate the economic impacts of smart grid technology.

"The leaders coming together to create this task force understand the direct connection between creating a high-tech electric grid and answering the energy, environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century," said PG&E President Chris Johns. "Consumers, businesses, government and communities all share a stake in its success, and the task force represents a new and important way for us to work together toward this vision."

The task force consists of member companies Oracle, Cisco, Nanosolar, Control4, Coulomb Technologies, Silver Spring Networks and OPower, among other leaders in energy and renewable energy.  In addition to educating consumers, the Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force will focus on how Smart Grid enhances long-term environmental and efficiency goals, demonstrate the economic benefits of Smart Grid investments in creating Silicon Valley jobs and identify next steps for local, state and federal policy makers to expedite the deployment of Smart Grid.

"As Mayor, my role is to keep San Jose residents aware and educated about the technology changes that can help our homes and businesses become more energy efficient," said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. "This task force's efforts will help achieve a smooth transition to this new technology for the people of San Jose."

Many utilities throughout California are beginning to deploy technology that will develop smarter grids.  PG&E has installed 5.5 million gas and electric meters with SmartMeter™ technology, as part of its effort to give customers more information about their energy consumption and contribute to the Smart Grid.  PG&E's SmartMeter™ program is part of a statewide effort approved by the California Public Utilities Commission to upgrade California's energy infrastructure with automated metering technology.  Worldwide, more than 90 million advanced meters have been installed.

Advanced metering technology, such as the SmartMeter™ devices that PG&E has deployed, give customers greater control over their energy use and costs.  The Smart Grid is also essential to encouraging growth in renewable energy sources, laying the foundation for a low-carbon economy.  According to the Department of Energy, an integrated Smart Grid would save an estimated $36 billion annually by 2025 in terms of energy-efficiency gains, greater use of renewable energy and distributed generation.

The Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force's efforts will mean cleaner, more reliable and more affordable energy for customers, said Carl Guardino, Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO.  "As an organization that promotes cutting-edge industries, we feel Smart Grid is critical in establishing California as a leader in the nation's transition to more efficient technologies," said Guardino.  "We're excited about the opportunities Smart Grid will create for both the energy industry and consumers."

About Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States.  Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California.  For more information, visit www.pge.com/about.

About the Silicon Valley Leadership Group

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) is organized to involve principal officers and senior managers of member companies in a cooperative effort with local, regional, state, and federal government officials to address major public policy issues affecting the economic health and quality of life in Silicon Valley. For more information, go to http://svlg.org.

About the City of San Jose

From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world's leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the U.S. (population 1,023,000), is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. San Jose's Green Vision is an ambitious and comprehensive 15-year roadmap to solve environmental problems and grow the local economy. Focused around three elements – Clean Tech Innovation, Sustainability, and Green Mobility – the Green Vision sets 10 bold goals through which San Jose will lead the nation in becoming more energy efficient, producing and using electricity from clean renewable sources, creating green buildings, diverting waste from landfills, creating greener street systems, delivering recycled water, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit, www.sanjoseca.gov.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company