Currents

An Energy Newsletter for Local Governments

The Challenge to Involve Local Government in California Electricity Policy

Local government is the missing partner in the development of electricity policy in California. Even though local governments play a significant role in the generation and sale of electricity and in energy conservation, the potential to do more has remained largely untapped. But this is changing as a result of the energy crisis in 2000-2001, increasing costs of electricity, and the uncertainty caused by restructuring of the electricity market and the resulting cost implications for local government.

The Public Policy Institute of California's working paper, "The Challenge to Involve Local Government in California Electricity Policy," uses the results of a 2002 survey to describe the potential for local governments to become involved in California electricity policy. Local governments can make a positive contribution in three areas: in electricity planning (including Community Choice Aggregation), in working with the private sector to develop large power plants, and in the development of distributed generation. The report also describes a regional approach to energy planning.

Copies of the working paper may be ordered at: www.ppic.org/content/pubs/WP_603JBWP.htm

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