Below is a list of our more frequently asked questions. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to give us a call at 408-244-SAVE (7283).

What is Silicon Valley Power?
Where does Santa Clara get its power?
Does the City of Santa Clara generate power within its own city limits?
How reliable is the power in Santa Clara?
What is Santa Clara doing to ensure its resources continue to meet customers' needs?
Does Silicon Valley Power support renewable power generation?

What is Silicon Valley Power?
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is the City of Santa Clara's electric utility. As a department of the City, Silicon Valley Power has been providing electricity to Santa Clara residents and businesses since July 23, 1896. To learn more about our history, visit http://www.siliconvalleypower.com/about/?doc=history.

Where does Santa Clara get its power?
SVP's published annual Power Content Label shows the sources of electricity purchased by the utility for distribution to Santa Clara residents and businesses. In accordance with the methods required by State Senate Bill 1305 power source evaluation guidelines, Santa Clara customers enjoyed twice the amount of renewable energy in their mix during 2002 than those receiving the state's average power mixture during 2001. SVP's 2002 power mix consists of twenty-six percent renewable resources, compared to twelve percent statewide. And when large hydroelectric resources are included, SVP's power mix consists of sixty-two percent renewable and large hydroelectric, as compared to twenty-two percent for the statewide mix.

Does the City of Santa Clara generate power within its own city limits?
Santa Clara currently generates approximately two percent of its energy within city limits. The remainder of energy needs come from a diverse set of resources owned and contracted for throughout California and the Western United States.

How reliable is the power in Santa Clara?
According to an ongoing nationwide reliability benchmarking survey done by PA Consulting Group called Reliability Best Practices Report, SVP consistently ranks in the top quartile for several key measures of reliability. And in a set of statewide residential and commercial customer satisfaction surveys performed by RKS Research in 2002 and 2003, SVP remains at the top for several reliability performance measures when compared to other California utilities. Our high reliability is a key factor in the attraction of business to Santa Clara.

What is Santa Clara doing to ensure its resources continue to meet customers' needs?
In order to stay ahead of both reliability and energy demands of all customers, Silicon Valley Power has started developing a new power generating facility within the City of Santa Clara. This facility will enhance local power reliability, help insulate Santa Clara customers from the volatility of the electricity market, and provide replacement power as current purchase-power contracts expire or are reduced. For more information, call 408-244-SAVE (7283).

Does Silicon Valley Power support renewable power generation?
Yes. SVP currently has a power mix with over twice the amount of renewable energy than the statewide average. SVP supports renewable power through a variety of individual customer and utility-wide purchasing programs.

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