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Launched on Nov. 5, 2010, the “Lake County Energy Watch” program gives businesses, nonprofits, special districts, municipal facilities and residents new opportunities to achieve significant energy savings while saving money.
“Identifying Energy Efficient Upgrades and Incentives,” the second class to be offered, will be held Thursday, May 19, 9 a.m. to noon at the El Grande Inn, 15135 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
This half-day course, taught by Mark Jewell, whose experience includes over 25 years in commercial real estate and more than 15 years in energy efficiency, will explore the most time-efficient and cost-effective approaches to identifying energy-saving measures for your building, how the utility's incentive offerings can reduce cost and improve financial returns, and how properly evaluating the costs and benefits of proposed upgrades can help get these projects approved.
This free class includes a continental breakfast. Registration is required.
Visit the Lake County Watch Web page at www.energy.co.lake.ca.us, and select "Classes for Professionals" on the left-hand side of the page to register.
Upcoming classes include "Residential Lighting: Title 24 and Technology Update," and "Planning a Zero Energy New or Existing Home in California.
In addition to presenting classes for energy efficiency professionals, Lake County Energy Watch is partnering with Richard Heath and Associates to provide no- and low-cost lighting retrofits for government facilities - including city, state, and federal facilities located in Lake County - as well as to non-profit organizations, small businesses, and special districts.
RHA oversees the Energy Fitness Program, an energy efficiency program available to all non-residential Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers in Lake County who use less than 200 kW of electricity per month.
The Energy Fitness Program offers lighting retrofits (remove and replace existing lighting for high energy efficient lighting) at no- or low-cost.
The retrofits include four and eight foot linear fixtures , high bay fixtures, Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs or retro kits, occupancy sensors, vending machine controllers, faucet aerators, as well as additional LED and other cost effective savings measures.
Most of these measures are at absolutely no cost – including removal and installation – with just a few of the options requiring a nominal surcharge.
Lake County Energy Watch was awarded $10,000 by PG&E to assist nonprofit organizations in Lake County with paying any applicable surcharge for lighting retrofits. When non-profits receive services from RHA through the Lake County Energy Watch program, RHA will invoice Lake County Energy Watch on behalf of the eligible organization.
For residential customers, Lake County Energy Watch is helping to promote A.B.S, an Energy Partner Contractor with PG&E that can provide residents with free energy education and weatherization on homes, apartments, or mobile homes which can include attic insulation, weather stripping, caulking, energy-efficient lighting and refrigerators, window repair, and more.
Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.
For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit www.energy.co.lake.ca.us .
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The US Department of Labor and the Employment and Training Administration have announced the end of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program for two temporary target groups.
The Department of Labor announced that the period in which unemployed veterans and disconnected youth eligible for the tax credit ended Dec. 31, 2010.
State workforce agencies are to continue processing all timely filed certification requests submitted for unemployed veterans and disconnected youth who have an employment start date on or before Dec. 31, 2010.
The WOTC is an employer-friendly benefit for hiring job seekers most in need of employment. Tax credits range from $1,200 to $9,000 for each eligible new hire.
There are still 10 groups that employers may hire from to take advantage of the WOTC such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
The Lake One-Stop can assist employers to hire eligible WOTC employees and has many other business services.
Call the Lake One-Stop today to see how they can help you. The Lakeport office can be reached at 707-263-0630; the phone number for the Clearlake office is 707-994-0633.
For more information about Lake One-Stop, Inc. visit www.lakeonestop.org.
For more information on the WOTC program and definitions of eligible groups, visit the Web site, www.doleta.gov/usworkforce , or call toll free 1-877-872-5627.
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SACRAMENTO – On Friday the Board of Equalization (BOE) released California gasoline and diesel consumption figures for January 2011.
California gasoline consumption was up 2.7 percent in January, and diesel consumption rose 1.4 percent, compared with last year.
“Gasoline consumption is up over last year even as gas prices have risen more than 32 cents per gallon,” said Board Member Betty T. Yee. “Higher gasoline prices are a concern for all Californians. However, I am optimistic this consumption increase in light of higher prices is a sign of the strengthening of our economy.”
California’s gasoline consumption increased 2.7 percent in January when Californians used 1.20 billion gallons of gasoline, compared to 1.17 billion gallons the same month last year.
California’s average price of gasoline rose 10.4 percent in January to $3.39 a gallon, up 32 cents compared to January last year when California gasoline prices averaged $3.07 per gallon.
The U.S. average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 13.7 percent in January to $3.15 per gallon, up 38 cents compared to a year earlier when the U.S. average price for gasoline was $2.77.
Diesel sold in California during January totaled 191 million gallons or 1.4 percent more than the previous January when Californian’s used 189 million gallons.
Diesel prices rose 56 cents higher to $3.56 per gallon in California during January, or 18.7 percent higher than the previous January when diesel was averaging $3.00 per gallon.
The U.S. average price for a gallon of diesel rose 18.9 percent in January to $3.39 per gallon, up 54 cents compared to a year earlier when the U.S. average price for diesel was $2.85.
The BOE is able to monitor gallons through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors. The figures reported monthly are net consumption that includes BOE audit assessments, refunds, amended and late tax returns, and the California State Controller’s Office refunds.
Figures for February 2011 are scheduled to be available at the end of May 2011.
All monthly, quarterly, and annual figures can be viewed at www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spftrpts.htm.
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The hearing will focus on MetLife's practices regarding payment of benefits under life insurance policies after MetLife learns of an insured's death – either to the beneficiaries or, if they cannot be located for three years or more, to the State's Unclaimed Property program.
MetLife learned of the deaths of insureds through a database prepared by the Social Security Administration called “Death Master,” which lists all Americans who die.
The commissioner and the controller are responding to preliminary findings from an audit the controller launched in 2008, indicating that for two decades, MetLife failed to pay life insurance policy benefits to named beneficiaries or the state even after learning that an insured had died.
The company has a huge number of so-called industrial policies, valued at an estimated $1.2 billion, which were primarily sold in the 1940s and 1950s to working-class people. The payments, which were collected weekly, typically were higher than the final death benefit.
The controller's unclaimed property audit indicates that MetLife did not take steps to determine whether policy owners of dormant accounts are still alive, and if not, pay the beneficiaries, or the state if they cannot be located.
Simultaneously, the preliminary findings show, when MetLife knew that an owner of an annuity contract – which generates income for the policy owner at the time the annuity matures – had died, or the annuity had matured, the company did not contact the policy holder or beneficiary, even though it subscribed to the Death Master database.
Furthermore, MetLife continued making premium payments from the policy holder's account until the cash reserves were used up, and then canceled the contract.
The announcement comes after Controller Chiang last week announced a landmark settlement with insurer John Hancock and following a multiyear investigation aimed at determining whether the insurance industry was in compliance with state unclaimed property laws requiring them to transfer dormant property to the state for safekeeping when the rightful owners, or their heirs, cannot be located.
The commissioner and controller believe that these practices are not isolated, but are systemic in the insurance industry.
“The thrust of this hearing is to determine whether MetLife, one of the largest life insurers and issuers of annuities in the United States, engaged in unfair practices regarding the payment of life insurance claims to beneficiaries,” Commissioner Jones said.
“California families buy insurance to provide for their retirement security and the financial security of their families when they die,” Controller Chiang said. “The benefits should be paid to the policy beneficiaries or to the State to return to the rightful owners.”
The hearing will be held in Sacramento on Monday, May 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.