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W E DN E SDAY, DE C E M BE R 1, 2 021
Getting a higher power bill? SBCE explains why By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Barbara Clean Energy, a longheld dream of Santa Barbara’s officials, launched Oct. 1 — in the midst of a global pandemic, a drought, shortly after an oil pipeline burst in Arizona and during an infrastructure-rebuilding year for Southern California Edison. It’s an expensive time for energy. Even so, SBCE said customers’ bills shouldn’t increase more than an average of $5 from Southern California Edison’s costs when auto-enrolled in the 100% green plan. (Per California law, customers are
automatically enrolled in communitychoice-aggregation services.) But residents noticed charges larger than anticipated when bills arrived at the beginning of November. Alelia Parenteau, acting sustainability and resilience codirector, said SBCE’s prices were below that of SCE’s. The cost increased because of another line item: SCE’s delivery charge. SBCE, a community-choice aggregator, procures the energy, but SCE delivers the energy using its existing lines and bills customers. Oct. 1, SCE increased its delivery rate by two cents per kilowatt hour — over
double the premium for 100% green, Ms. Parenteau said in the Nov. 9 City Council meeting. The charge increased for all of SCE’s customers, which encompasses a 50,000 square mile area. Diane Castro, SCE spokeswoman, told the News-Press the charges fund infrastructure upgrades. “From upgrading our equipment to investing in advanced technologies, we are taking steps every day to protect the safety of CCA and SCE bundled customers and communities. The rate increase implemented across our service area on Oct. 1 was related to our wildfire risk mitigation programs
which includes covered conductor, vegetation management, inspections and maintenance and advanced technology solutions,” she said in a statement. SBCE and SCE are separate items on the bill now, whereas charges previously were altogether. Customers would not have seen itemized procurement and delivery fees prior to SBCE. “People are certainly confused,” Ms. Parenteau told the News-Press. “They say my bill has skyrocketed, but when I walk them through the part of the bill that has increased, they realize it is Edison. It shows up as a separate charge, which is confusing because they’re used to seeing
Dense fog obscures Tuesday morning
one.” Still just 3.5% of customers have opted out from the program and returned to SCE. An additional .3% have “opted down” to the “Green Start” plan, which powers a residence with at least 50% green energy for a lower cost than the 100% green plan. Officials initially estimated a much larger portion of customers would opt out of the program. A letter sent by SCE in late August stirred confusion among residents. Around 9,000 letters were sent titled “Rescheduling of Community Choice Please see SBCE on A4
Local health officials comment on latest COVID-19 variant
Warm weather expected to continue today
By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Local health experts applauded the quick identification of the Omicron variant and advised caution for the approaching flu season in a COVID-19 update for the NewsPress. While there are diverse reactions upon the announcement by world leaders, it is generally understood by health officials that only time will tell the severity of the new strain. “We know very little,” Santa Barbara County Health Care Center Internist Dr. Henning Ansorg told the News-Press. Dr. Ansorg continued to explain the efficacy of vaccines and natural immunity will not be clear for another two to three weeks. “What we do know is that this apparently has the capacity to outpace the Delta variant,” Dr. Ansorg told the News-Press. “It is more transmissible, which is why health officials are watching this so closely.” Dr. Ansorg noted the 61 passengers in flights from South Africa to the Netherlands who tested positive with the omicron variant. Despite this worrying statistic, Cottage Health Chair of Infectious Disease Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons acknowledged how quickly the new variant was located. “Our system to locate variants seems to be working well,” Dr. Fitzgibbons told the News-Press.
DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Fog blanketed State Street in Santa Barbara Tuesday.
By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria residents awoke Tuesday to a dense fog that cleared up by noon. The National Weather Service reported a dense fog advisory with visibilities as low as a 1/16th of a mile. The weather service continued the advisory through 9
am. The areas of dense fog affected the coastal waters, and a marine weather statement was in effect. Despite this, the weather service reported that temperatures will continue to be warm, with some valleys experiencing a modest increase. The high at the Santa Barbara City Fire Department was a cooler 66, 81 in Santa Maria, 77
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expected to keep skies clear in all areas allowing for safe air travels. According to the National Weather Service, a cool down is expected Thursday through Saturday with a return of low clouds and fog to coastal areas followed by a slight warming trend on Sunday and Monday. email: fmcfarland@newspress.com
Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County Health Care Center
Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons
“It’s important to remember we’re in a far better position than we’ve ever been.” Dr. Fitzgibbons noted that health care officials are far better prepared for omicron versus other variants like delta which heavily disrupted areas in India before being identified. “For the first time in this pandemic, we are aware of this variant as it’s starting to cause an increase in cases,” Dr. Fitzgibbons told the News-Press. “We need to remember that’s a very positive thing.” In regard to international travel restrictions after the variant was identified, Dr. Ansorg advised international travelers to get tested 3-5 days after arriving home regardless of vaccination status. He also advised international travelers to quarantine for seven days. Please see VARIANT on A4
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in Lompoc and 81 in Santa Ynez. Goleta was milder with a high of 63 while New Cuyama was fairly warm with a high of 78. As for the lows, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department went down to 49, 43 in Santa Maria, 77 in Lompoc and 39 in Santa Ynez. Goleta had a low of 41 while New Cuyama had a low of 39. A developing offshore flow is
“What we do know is that this apparently has the capacity to outpace the Delta variant. It is more transmissible, which is why health officials are watching this so closely.”
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTOS
Dr. Henning Ansorg
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-11-27-31-36 Mega: 22
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 4-0-0-3
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-8-26-30-39 Mega: 17
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 1-2-12-13-14
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 03-01-08 Time: 1:45.17
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 8-32-55-64-66 Meganumber: 10
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 5-0-3 / Midday 5-1-2