Once again, utility companies are trying to curb energy-saving incentive programs in order to protect their revenues.

This is nothing new, but in a time where natural resources are becoming more and more scarce, you'd think that there would be more incentives to save on these valuable resources. This goes back to the old days, where devices and fuels developed to increase automobile gas efficiency were bought out by the major auto manufacturers and then immediately put in mothballs.

However, in the age of Hybrid cars and incentives for builders to produce more energy-efficient homes, it's time to bring these savings down to the level where the average consumer can take advantage of them.

The California state Assembly's Appropriation Committee is expected to pass a bill aimed at making solar water heating systems widely available by providing incentives that would reduce the cost of acquiring these systems. The bill would offer $250 million in incentives to build 200,000 solar water systems statewide over the next 10 years.

This would provide savings in natural gas usage overall and would be funded in part by adding a surcharge to both residential and commercial gas bills. The surcharge for residential customers is expected to be about $0.13 per month, so we're not talking a big chunk of change on the residential front.

Avis Kowalewski, vice president for Western Regulatory Affairs at Calpine Corp. (they own 22 gas-fueled power plants in the state) is against this new bill, along with San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego-based Sempra Energy, which owns Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Kowalewski stated, "But this bill could cost our company alone between $14 million and $18 million over 10 years." What Kowalewski doesn't state is that at least part of this cost would be covered by the surcharges to their customers.

Although solar water heaters aren't widely used yet, Bernadette Del Chiaro, an energy expert for the advocacy group Environment California said, "the legislation will create a large enough market that prices will drop and it will become cost-effective in time." The group Environment California helped draft this new bill.

Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), the bill's author, says that studies show that using solar systems in California homes and businesses with access to sunlight could cut the use of residential natural gas by about 24% and reduce total statewide consumption by more than 5%.

The monthly gas bill for most California residences is their lowest utility charge, with water and electric being much higher, but any savings would certainly be welcome. And as solar water heater usage is increased over time, the energy savings should increase and our dependence on fossil fuels should decrease. It's not the only step that can be taken to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, but at least it's a start!

Linda Slocum, Santa Clarita Realtor

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