What the Clean Power Promise means to me

As CEO & General Manager of SMUD , and a SMUD customer myself, I’m incredibly proud of the movement we’re leading to eliminate carbon from our power supply by 2030, and the important work being done to include our community in this journey. Earlier this summer, we launched our Clean Power Promise campaign as part of our larger Clean PowerCity? movement. It celebrates our customers’ actions and generates excitement for others to take action through programs, rebates, tips and “joining the charge" to support a clean energy future. At the same time, we’re reinforcing our commitment to world-class safety, reliability and low rates - core expectations of our customers.

For me, the Clean Power Promise isn’t just a professional mission, but a deeply personal commitment. It represents the intense responsibility I feel to future generations to ensure that we leave behind a planet that is healthier, more sustainable and more equitable. It’s about innovation, leadership and the collective momentum SMUD is making toward a real, tangible difference in the fight against climate change. And, it’s a pledge to our customers, our employees and our communities that we’re dedicated to providing clean, reliable and affordable energy.

The top 3 things I want you to remember when it comes to SMUD’s Clean Power Promise are:

1. Our commitment to affordable rates. SMUD’s rates are consistently among the lowest in California and ~50% lower than our closest neighboring utility. On average, our residential customers save $1,600 annually, which helps keep $2 billion in our local economy. That’s money that is being used to build a zero-carbon economy and help ALL our communities thrive. When we established our 2030 Zero Carbon Plan in 2021, we said we were focused on making sure we could reach our goals at a reasonable cost to minimize rate increases for customers, limiting rate impacts to the annual rate of inflation. I’m proud to say we’re keeping our commitment, even amid rising costs and inflation. We also know that from time to time, our customers need financial support. That’s why we have a robust income-eligible assistance program to support those who need it most.
2. Our proven track record in world-class safety & reliability. Electricity is essential to our everyday lives, and we work hard to maintain, upgrade and enhance our equipment and infrastructure projects, not just to supply our customers’ electricity needs today, but well into the future. Our downtown Sacramento substation, Station G, is a perfect example of this. Aligned with SMUD’s regional decarbonization goals, Station G uses advanced technologies to support the city’s clean energy transformation for decades to come while improving grid resilience and ensuring a dependable power supply for the ever-evolving energy needs of the Sacramento area. To provide our services successfully, safety is, and always will be, paramount. We were recently recognized by the American Public Power Association with a Diamond safety award designation, which is the highest status awarded to utilities around the nation who demonstrate a strong commitment to its employees, customers and the community. ?
3. Our promise for a clean energy future. We’ve been leading in creating Clean PowerCities across our region and momentum is growing. By adopting the most ambitious zero carbon goal of any large utility in the nation, we’re making significant progress through renewable energy, battery storage, electrification, customer programs and our Community Impact Plan to bring all customers along in our transition to a clean energy future. This journey isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and every day we’re taking the necessary steps to keep the momentum going. We’re also securing new grants for ground-breaking, innovative technology projects that will help us transition to a future where our energy supply is carbon-free and keep our rates remain among the lowest in the state. These grants include our recent $10 million California Energy Commission grant to demonstrate the viability of long-duration battery storage, $270 million in partnership with Calpine Corporation from the Department of Energy (DOE) to advance carbon capture and sequestration and another $50 million from the DOE to support advanced smart grid technologies. ???????

Equitable access

Equitable access is very important to all of us at SMUD. Why? We serve a diverse community, and we’re committed to providing all communities with opportunities to participate in and benefit from a clean energy future.

That’s why we developed our Community Impact Plan, which provides a roadmap for making meaningful investments in under-resourced communities. Whether it’s through job training and placement, ways to save or access to electrification, we’re committed to our promise to our customers. We’re reaching customers in many channels in many languages, from our website, which is now available in 10 languages, to our campaign, which is available in up to 14 languages, depending on the platform.

How you can join the charge

Already, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the charge to take action for a better environment, and this number is growing by the day. Our customers are driving electric, making clean power choices and saving money with SMUD rebates, while we keep our promise to deliver world-class safety, reliability and some of the lowest rates in California.

You too can participate by adding any of these 99 clean energy tips to your lifestyle. I wouldn’t ask you to take these steps if I didn’t believe in them enough to commit myself. In fact, I sign up for every SMUD program that I can because it’s important to me that I not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. I get SMUD’s emails, our bill alerts, customized tips through My Account, clean energy through Greenergy, our EV discount rate and so much more.

Visit CleanPowerCity.org to get more information about our rebates and programs, discover 99 ways to join the charge, read our Road to Zero blog and see what upcoming events SMUD has so you can take action for a better environment and future.?

I’m committed to this work because I want my children and grandchildren to inherit a world where clean energy is the norm, not the exception. Are we going to face some challenges on our journey to 2030? Yes. But, today we have a path to get to zero, and it’s one that I embrace with passion and my unwavering promise to pursue it with all that I’ve got! And, I hope that you will too.