About Us
SF Power Timeline
2010
Demand-Responses to Stand on its Own
In its fourth year our demand-response program emerged as a stand-alone enterprise, without special support from the California Public Utility Commission. During the summer SF Power distributed hundreds of energy- and water-saving devices to working families in Bayview-Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley.
2009
Demand-Response Program Temporarily Reduces Energy Use by Seven Megawatts
More than 400 small businesses, nonprofits, and modest-sized cities effectively reduced their electricity use when called upon, saving money and reducing polluting air emissions. Over the past three years SF Power's demand-response participants earned more than $250,000.
2008
Community and Trade Climate Change Pilot Initiative launched
Launched pilot program to demonstrate that low-income families and small businesses can cost-effectively participate in emerging carbon trading programs.
2007
Three megawatts of curtailable load booked
Achieved three megawatts of curtailable load from small businesses, nonprofits, and schools, thereby helping the state avoid electricity blackouts and reduce polluting air and greenhouse gas emissions.
2007
Transbay Cable mitigated
Helped create $50 million in community benefits funds as part of the approval for the Transbay Cable project, which will extend a transmission line under the Bay from the City of Pittsburg to San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood.
2006
Hunters Point Power Plant Closed
Helped close the highly-polluting Hunters Point Power Plant.
2006
Bayview churches retrofitted
Installed lighting retrofits in three Bayview churches, saving them thousands of dollars annually.
2005
Two dozen community members trained
Hired and trained more than two-dozen community members to implement energy-saving measures.
2004
Reached first megawatt of savings
By 2004 our programs had saved San Francisco residents one megawatt of power.
2004
Efficiency on Wheels program launched
Launched Efficiency on Wheels program, with a goal of achieving one megawatt of energy savings. We distributed and installed 20,000 energy efficient devices throughout San Francisco.
2004
SF Produce Market greened
Implemented an energy efficiency retrofit project at the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, reducing utility bills by ten of thousands of dollars annually.
2003
Pricing pilot addresses pollution.
Launched an ultimately successful pilot project examining whether low-income families would temporarily reduce their electricity use on short-notice if they knew that by doing so they'd reduce polluting air emissions at nearby power plants.
2003
Treasure Trek
Launched the annual Treasure Trek in Potrero Hill. Hundreds of community members trolled local businesses, learning about energy efficiency.
2002
“Ancient” fridges retired
Replaced a World War II-era refrigerator from long-time Hunters Point hangout, Dago Mary’s, and a Studebaker model freezer from Bayview’s Jordan's House of Ribs, with energy-efficient models.
2001
SF Community Power launched
SF Community Power was originally launched as "San Francisco Community Power Cooperative," with a $1.5 million grant from the San Francisco Department of the Environment.
