California utilities relying more on renewables

SAN FRANCISCO

California's investor-owned electric utilities are generating more power from renewable energy.

The utilities submitted 37 renewable energy contracts for approval by state regulators in the first quarter of 2010, more than the number of contracts that California Public Utilities Commission typically approves in a year, the commission said in a report issued Tuesday.

The utilities are requesting approval of more than 50 contracts before the end of the year, twice as many as the utilities have requested in prior years.

These utilities provided 15.4 percent of their electricity with renewable energy in 2009, up from 13 percent in 2008.

The increase is due to more newly installed renewable capacity, small hydroelectric facilities generating more power and customers using less electricity in 2009 than in 2008, according to the report.

The utilities are expected to generate about 18 percent of their electricity from renewable sources this year and 21 percent next year.

Pacific Gas and Electric delivered 14.4 percent of its 2009 energy output with renewable energy while Southern California Edison delivered 17.4 percent and San Diego Gas and Electric 10.5 percent. These three utilities provides 68 percent of the state's electricity.