SACRAMENTO – Among the flurry of bills signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this month was Senate Bill 17 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima).

Co-authored by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D -- Santa Rosa), SB 17 will advance California’s clean energy policies by improving reliability and efficiency in power distribution through the deployment of smart grid technology.

Padilla said that "with SB 17 in place, a 21st century grid could be realized in California within the next five to ten years, allowing for a fundamental change in the way we think about, and use, electricity." Wiggins said that the new law "will help establish green technologies and green collar jobs."

SB 17 establishes deployment of smart grid technology as the policy of the state. It calls on the California Public Utilities Commission to determine the requirements for a smart grid deployment plan by July 2010. The bill also requires investor-owned utilities and municipal utility districts to develop smart grid deployment plans.

The Obama Administration has included $4.5 billion for the Smart Grid Investment Program in the economic stimulus package. SB 17 will make California more competitive when pursuing federal smart grid grants.

In California, 273,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines deliver power to homes and businesses. Yet, the antiquated electrical grid is neither clean, efficient, nor stable enough to meet California’s future needs.

Smart grid technology allows us to manage the electric grid more efficiently, reliably and securely while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Smart grid also empowers consumers with real-time information so they can better conserve energy and save money.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, smart grid technology can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 25 percent and electricity usage by 10 percent.