Energy/Water Partnerships

Since the early 2000s, the term “energy efficiency” has worked its way into the minds and practices of the general public. The South Bay Energy Savings Center (SBESC) originated from an initial partnership between the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and the California Public Utilities Commission in 2002 known as the Energy Rewards Program, which promoted energy efficiency in the South Bay area of Southwestern Los Angeles County. The Center itself, creating the more specific partnership between Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Southern California Gas Company (SCG) has been in operation since 2004.

In October 2006, West Basin joined this unique, efficiency partnership with the SBESC to give West Basin’s conservation programs a larger audience. This partnership allows West Basin to outreach further into our service territory to individuals interested in resource efficiency, ultimately riding the wave of public awareness about energy efficiency by showing people ways to save water as well as energy. The SBESC also organizes workshops in conjunction with all its partners and promotes awareness through its extensive contacts with relevant organizations and the Cities (staff and elected officials) comprising the South Bay area of Southwestern Los Angeles County.

Through this partnership, West Basin gains access to the network of SCE and SCG field representatives who work closely with customers in West Basin’s territory. This access to our customers has resulted in referrals to specific programs administered by West Basin as well as to Southern California’s region-wide rebate program. West Basin has also begun to create programs by applying for grant funding to integrate energy-efficient measures into our water conservation programs. The mechanisms and relationships needed to integrate these programs are facilitated more efficiently through our partnership with the SBESC.

For more information about the SBESC, visit www.sbesc.com.