Just like the labels on food products that provide consumers with information about the nutritional value of the contents, the Power Content Label provides customers with reliable data about the resources used by their Electric Utility.  It allows consumers to compare the power “content” of one electricity product with that of another.

Electricity can come from renewable resources, such as biomass and waste, geothermal heat or steam, solar energy, rivers or small hydroelectric reservoirs and windenergy, or be produced from resources such as coal, large hydroelectric reservoirs, natural gas or nuclear fuels. The Power Content Label describes the sources of electricity that are put into the power grid. Each utility must display information about the energy resources represented by their contracts with electricity generators.

Your municipal Electric Utility, Silicon Valley Power’s 2005 power mix consisted of 22 percent eligible renewable resources, compared to 4 percent statewide.  When large hydroelectric resources are included, the power mix enjoyed by Santa Clara customers is 46 percent renewable and large hydro, as compared to 24 percent for the statewide mix.

For specific information about the Power Content Label, send an email to info@siliconvalleypower.com or call 244-SAVE (7283).  For general information about the label, contact the California Energy Commission at www.energy.ca.gov/consumer/power_content_label.html or call (800) 555-7794.