Southern California Edison wants to use CFLs to raise rates

Southern California Edison (SCE) wants to give free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to low income households... and wants ratepayers to foot the bill. 

SCE is planning to ask state regulators for authorization to provide 1 million low-income households with a complimentary set of six compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to reduce electrical demand, and help families reduce lighting costs.

SCE will propose that the estimated $22 million cost of this program be funded by an increase in the Public Goods Charge component of customers’ rates. If approved, the program would result in a slight rate increase for all ratepayers.

“We look forward to reviewing this creative proposal by Edison for just such a partnership,” said Michael R. Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission [ed.: yup, the same Michael Peevey that can't pronounce the word silicon - see Silly cone valley.]

“This initiative is part of our company’s continuing commitment to industry leadership in promoting customer energy-efficiency, purchasing renewable energy, and supporting the emergence of plug-in hybrid technology,” said John E. Bryson, SCE chairman. “We believe our strategies lead the way for our industry, offering significant promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

If approved, SCE would distribute the CFLs with the help of a broad network of community-based organizations that work with the utility to deliver SCE’s energy-efficiency services and promote the utility’s low-income energy-discount program.

SCE proposes using these community-based organizations, along with others, to identify families that qualify for the million-home initiative, distributing the new bulbs door to door along with a packet of educational information on other ways homeowners can save energy and money.

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