Unlike most other municipalities in the United States, Santa Clara maintains a dedicated public utility to serve its residents’ electrical power and communications needs. The first municipality in America to own and operate its own geothermal generation plant, and among the first in the nation to maintain cutting edge electric utilities, Santa Clara has operated its power division for more than 100 years.
Founded in 1896, the city of Santa Clara invested in a municipal electric utility consisting of 46 street lamps and one small generator. More than a century later, Silicon Valley Power boasts a track record of keeping at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies that have kept their power flowing efficiently, affordably, and reliably. One of the early adopters switching from direct to alternating currents, Santa Clara’s utility was ever on the lookout for advances in generation and distribution of public power and moved forward at the pace of technology with advanced cost-effective generation resources. The current incarnation of this entity, Silicon Valley Power utilizes any number of means to achieve its goals, such as its geothermal generation plant, fuel cells, energy efficient equipment, electric-hybrid transit options, wind and solar power, and other rapidly advancing technologies.
Savings to its Customers
The residents of Santa Clara are, by default, the customers of Silicon Valley Power, and they couldn’t be more satisfied with their energy provider. With an enormous difference in the cost of electricity for Santa Clara residents versus their neighbors in other Bay Area cities, Silicon Valley Power proves year after year that a public utility is capable of cost-effective and innovative power solutions. By offering generous rebates and incentives to its residential and commercial customers, Silicon Valley Power is able to help keep Santa Clara’s power needs met while increasing the efficiency and lowering the environmental impact of the city as a whole.
- Rates 25-40% below those of neighboring communities
- Lowest rates in the San Francisco Bay Area (9 counties)
- Free WiFi
- Fiber optic network with special leases to local communications providers
- Bright Star business incentive program
- Substantial rebates for energy efficiency
Silicon Valley Power serves as the model for efficiency in the San Francisco Bay area, and ensures that Santa Clara residents continue to have the most reliable and affordable electric utility available.
Free WiFi for Santa Clara
To support the deployment of their new wireless and remotely operated metering project, Silicon Valley Power is currently in the process of acquiring the necessary infrastructure component for what will be a wireless network throughout the city. Many areas of Santa Clara are already covered by this wireless network, and the city of Santa Clara and Silicon Valley Power are working toward a cost-benefit study with the hope of maintaining this service in perpetuity for the residents of Santa Clara.
Silicon Valley Power
1500 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 615-2300
Emergency Services – (408)615-5640 (24 Hours)
www.siliconvalleypower.com |
