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                     NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                  CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION


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For Immediate Release:  Thursday March 23, 1995


                RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT 
                 HONORED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY


The Rancho California Water District has been named an Energy 
Efficiency Showcase by the California Energy Commission, which 
praised the district's resourcefulness in saving energy.

Located in Riverside County, the district is one of only 10 
water suppliers to be selected for the Commission's Energy 
Showcase project.  Sixteen wastewater districts were also 
selected from the more than 4,000 water and sewer agencies in 
California.

"The Showcase program was designed to reward and spotlight energy 
efficient water suppliers like this one," explained Commissioner 
Jananne Sharpless of the Energy Commission.  "With their 
dedicated approach to energy use, the operators of the Rancho 
California Water District serve as models for other water 
professionals around the state."

Operating 60 wells and 30 storage reservoirs, Rancho California 
furnishes water to 20,000 agricultural and residential customers 
around Temecula.  To help cut its utility costs and save energy, 
the water district installed a sophisticated computerized 
operating system.  Where possible, it uses natural gas instead of 
electricity to run its pumps, a move the district estimates has 
saved approximately $1 million a year in energy costs.  Since 
using less water results in less energy use, the company is also 
actively encouraging water conservation.  

As a participant in the Energy Showcase project, the Rancho 
California Water District will serve as a demonstration site, 
allowing other water suppliers to learn from its accomplishments.  

"The Energy Commission is encouraging every water supplier and 
every wastewater agency in the state to become as energy 
efficient as possible," said Sharpless.  "It makes good business 
sense.  Californians spend over half a billion dollars a year to 
pump and treat their water and sewage.  If every agency could cut 
its energy bill by 10 percent, the savings statewide would result 
in an additional $50 million a year that could be used to replace 
old pipes and aging infrastructure, improve water quality, and 
increase the amount of water recycling."


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For more information, contact:

Craig Elitharp
Operation Manager, Rancho California Water District
(909) 676-4101

Rob Schlichting, California Energy Commission, (916) 654-5159


End of file
File name: 95-03-23_Rancho_California_Water_Award