The San Diego County Water Authority is expanding a long-running partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to increase the availability of devices that save both water and energy for thousands of income-qualified residents across the region.
The Water Authority’s investment of $150,000 will supplement funding for water-saving devices, allowing SDG&E’s Energy Savings Assistance Program to serve more customers. Approximately 21,000 residents annually have participated in the program, receiving assistance for devices such as low-flow showerheads and efficient washing machines.
“We are committed to helping the San Diego region make the most of our water supplies inside and outside their homes through a variety of innovative projects and programs,” said Mark Muir, chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “By joining forces with SDG&E, we maximize our impact and benefit families that otherwise might not be able to afford these environmentally friendly upgrades.”
Eligibility Criteria
“Nowhere is water and energy more connected than the San Diego region,” said Scott Crider, vice president of customer services at SDG&E. “It’s through these types of partnerships we are making a real difference in people’s lives and promoting the conservation of our most valuable resources.”
Eligibility for SDG&E’s no-cost energy- and water-efficiency improvement program for homes is based on income and household size, or by household participation in certain public assistance programs. A family of four may be eligible if it earns a maximum combined annual income of $50,200. Click here for details about the Energy Savings Assistance Program, including eligibility requirements.
Long-Running Partnership
SDG&E and the Water Authority have worked together to trim water and energy use for decades – one of the longest-running partnerships of its kind in California. The Water Authority’s current $150,000 contribution to participants in the Energy Savings Assistance Program comes from the agency’s operating budget and conservation funds available through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
As the Water Authority and SDG&E continue to expand their partnership, next steps include exploring the potential for improving water-use efficiency at small and mid-sized commercial kitchens through SDG&E’s Business Energy Solutions Program. Participants in that program receive a no-cost audit and a report identifying resource-saving technologies so they can take advantage of incentives and financing opportunities. In addition, SDG&E and the Water Authority aim to coordinate and integrate their respective water and energy efficiency programs for agricultural customers while seeking additional opportunities to collaborate.
For more information about the Water Authority’s water-use efficiency resources, go to WaterSmart.SD.org.