Our Path to Sustainable Energy Use
In April 2019, San Diego Gas and Electric honored Helix with an Energy Showcase Award. We showed leadership in advancing energy efficiency and sustainability in the San Diego region. For Helix, the award was a confirmation that the district is on the right path.
Solar Energy
The solar panel array at our operations center provides 90-100% of the facility's energy.
Load Shifting
We pump water into our distribution system and reservoir tanks at times when rates are lower.
Direct Access Program
We reduced costs by an average of 18% by purchasing energy through the State of California's Direct Access Program.
Pump Upgrades
We equipped our pumps with power meters and can monitor and operate them remotely to maximize efficiency.
Energy Audit
We retained DHK Engineers in 2012 to perform an energy audit. By 2019, we had implemented 148 of the audit's 150 recommendations.
Facility Upgrades
We installed window film and energy-efficient lights in our office buildings.
Rates Management
We track San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) rate schedules and adjust our operations as needed to cut energy costs.
Electric Vehicles
We received $5,500 in state rebates and expect to save $1,000 annually in fuel costs for each of our six Prius sedans. In 2022, we received our first all-electric, zero emission, Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
We installed 20 electric vehicle charging stations with a grant from San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E).