Southern California Edison obtained 1,360 MW of energy storage, 1,442 new vehicle charging ports in 2020

According to the 2020 Sustainability Report released by Edison International this week, progress was made last year on its path to cleaner energy, with its subsidiary Southern California Edison (SCE) in particular pushing major new energy storage and vehicle charging port efforts.

These efforts amounted to 1,360 MW of new energy storage for the California company, along with 1,442 vehicle charging ports to aid the state’s growing electric vehicle fleet. Both were rolled out through SCE’s Charge Ready Program. At the same time, SCE continued to operate the lowest system average rate among California’s investor-owned utilities.

Edison International, at large, oversaw reductions in NOx and SO2 emissions and increases to customer energy efficiency. However, lessened rainfall, COVID-19 effects, and more contributed to declines in carbon-free power as a percent of retail sales and a rise in CO2 emissions. The amount of hazardous waste the company has disposed of soared during the pandemic, though, and its system reliability rose as well.

Edison International continues to emphasize disclosures and metrics of interest for its investors, regulators, customers, and other stakeholders.

“Our framework underscores the strong link between our strategy and financing activities,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, said. “The broad spectrum of financing tools enabled by the framework are part of our effort to keep costs affordable for customers while achieving our sustainability goals, including reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.”

Edison International’s newly released financial framework will work to finance or refinance projects in four environmental categories: renewable energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency/carbon reduction, or climate change adaptation. That, or these funds will go toward socioeconomic advancement and empowerment, according to the company.

Last year alone, the company noted, it also advised corporate clients on approximately 2.2 GW of renewable energy agreements.