Developer Connections Summer 2020
Supporting our customers through COVID-19
Since the COVID-19 pandemic heightened in March, SMUD’s been active on many fronts to ensure the health and well-being of our employees and customers.
In order to ensure our most vulnerable residential and business customers continue to have access to power, we quickly suspended power shut-offs for non-payment and have subsequently extended it through January, 4 2021. We also modified our energy assistance rate to better serve qualifying customers. We’re showing our support throughout new “Stay Well” campaign reminding our customers and community that we’re here to help.
Over the next few months, we’re reviewing our business priorities to ensure our rates remain competitive in light of the challenging economic conditions. See the latest COVID-19 updates.
Go electric!
SMUD is actively promoting electrification by encouraging customers to shift from using fossil fuels for space and water heating needs to using heat pump technologies. This allows for more renewable energy use and potentially maximizes heat recovery in a building. With the benefits of implementing electric heat pump technologies, a building owner can maximize on heat recovery in their building instead of rejecting that valuable heat outdoors.
Here’s how it works. In general, it’s more efficient to “move” energy (such as with a heat pump) than it is to “make” energy (such as with electric resistance or burning gas). For example, a multifamily apartment building could incorporate a central heat pump water heater designed to extract heat emitted from vehicles and surrounding air in a parking garage, then “move” that heat into their domestic water. Or, an office building could incorporate a variable refrigerant flow system with heat recovery to “move” cooling and heating energy within a building before exchanging energy with the outdoors.
SMUD supports induction cooking for commercial kitchens and central or standalone heat pump water heaters for projects with incentives and technical guidance on your electrification projects. The possibilities are endless. Reach out to SMUD staff in the Advanced Commercial Solutions department for next steps on how we can support you and your design team to further optimize your building. We can be reached at 1-916-732-5095 or IntegratedDesign@smud.org.
Transmission line upgrade
In April, we finished the first phase of a large upgrade to an existing SMUD transmission line in Sacramento that will continue the delivery of reliable power to our customers. Phase II of the project starts in early 2021. After completion of the project, we’ll be better equipped to meet future demands for electricity and to bring more renewable resources to the Sacramento area.
Introducing SMUD’s new Neighborhood SolarShares Program
Register today to learn about the program and how to apply.
Please join SMUD for an online information session on the new Neighborhood SolarShares program, which provides utility-scale solar power to new homes permitted under the 2019 Building Standards Code. In February, the California Energy Commission approved Neighborhood SolarShares as an option for builders to comply with the mandate that all new low-rise residential buildings in California be solar-powered.
Participants will learn about the program, how to participate and the timeline for launch. Prospective participants, members of the design community, local governments, other program administrators and interested individuals are welcome to attend.
Online information session attendance options:
- Wednesday, July 15, 2020 from 10-11 AM – Register here
- Thursday, August 13, 2020 from 10-11 AM – Register here
Upcoming industry related workshops
Transforming how we build: demystifying net zero energy & carbon neutrality - online class
Thursday, July 9, 2020 | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Skype meeting
2019 Title 24: Envelope - online class
Thursday, August 13, 2020 | 8:30 a.m. – noon | Skype meeting
Transforming how we build: meeting climate change goals with FastOx® gasification – online class
Thursday, August 20, 2020 | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Skype meeting
Register now
2019 Title 24: Mechanical - online class
Thursday, September 10, 2020 | 8:30 a.m. – noon | Skype meeting
Register now
Transforming how we build: embodied carbon of building materials - online class
Thursday, September 17, 2020 | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Skype meeting
Register now