Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been named one of the Unites States’ most intelligent utilities in the third annual UtiliQ ranking by Intelligent Utility magazine and IDC Energy Insights, a worldwide research and consulting firm. In 2011, PG&E placed behind San Diego Gas & Electric, and in 2010 had been ranked third. 

The magazine defines an intelligent utility as “one that is productive, uses resources wisely, deploys information and technology to the best advantage, provides options to its customers, maintains reliability, and runs a sustainable business. The intelligent utility is steadfastly and thoughtfully re-aligning its objective, business processes and technology to prepare for the future.”

The rankings were based on five metrics designed to gauge each utility’s productivity (revenue per employee); commitment to renewable energy (based on sales and capacity); smart grid initiatives (including investments in smart metering); programs to help customers use energy more efficiently; and investment in information technology to enable business process improvement.

The most recent rankings also featured a bonus for those utilities that demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by having a corporate social responsibility officer and an annual sustainability report, of which PG&E has both.

Kevin Dasso, senior director of technology and information strategy at PG&E says, “We’re proud to be honored for our commitment to innovating on behalf of our customers. Whether modernizing our grid to make it ‘smarter,’ providing some of the cleanest power in the industry, or helping customers find new ways to manage their energy better, we are focused on applying improved technology and practices to our core mission: delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy services.”

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States, serving 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about/newsroom.

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