PASADENA, Calif.- Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) continues to demonstrate leadership across key areas that shape a sustainable and resilient future for the community. Recent notable designations recognize the utility's progress in expanding clean transportation options and strengthening cybersecurity practices, while an upcoming virtual workshop will help residents navigate new opportunities in residential solar and battery storage.

Charging Smart Designation for EV Infrastructure

The City of Pasadena and PWP recently received a Silver designation from the national Charging Smart program for achieving policies that facilitate the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure, including 162 public charging stations at 13 sites across the City, rebates for ownership of qualifying vehicles and home chargers, and working with commercial partners to expand EV charging opportunities. As a Charging Smart Silver designee, Pasadena has adopted nationally recognized best practices to accelerate the deployment of EVs in the community.

The designation comes from Energy Ready, a program led by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Transportation Technologies Office. To achieve Charging Smart Silver designation, Pasadena has taken actions that will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for its residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to install EV infrastructure and adopt EVs.

"A core PWP priority is expanding opportunities for residents to choose new or used electric vehicles and ensuring they have convenient, reliable charging options that contribute to cleaner air for our community," said David Reyes, PWP General Manager. "We're grateful to receive the Charging Smart Silver Designation, which recognizes our ongoing commitment to creating accessible and sustainable EV infrastructure in Pasadena. I'd also like to extend a special thank you to the PWP team for their outstanding work in this area."

Find more information about EV rebates and locate nearby charging stations at PWPweb.com/EV.

Notable Cybersecurity Practices Recognized as Progressive

PWP's Finance and Administration Business Unit earned an American Public Power Association (APPA) Cybersecurity Accelerator Program designation for demonstrating implementation of core cybersecurity practices in support of a resilient electric grid. The primary factors assessed by APPA were PWP's internal controls which maintain the integrity of the utility's networks and data; governance and training which guide PWP's security strategy and accountability; cyber incident response structure; and cyber risk management to mitigate risks to PWP's critical systems and data.

"In close collaboration with the City of Pasadena's Department of Information Technology team, the PWP IT security team remains committed to protecting our water and power systems and strengthening our cybersecurity readiness," said David Reyes, General Manager of PWP. "Earning this designation highlights the proactive efforts our team has taken to invest in future-focused security practices for a public power utility."

Reminder: Solar Power and Battery 101 Virtual Workshop Open to All

With rebates now available to save residents an average of 20-30% on upfront costs, PWP customers have more resources than ever to go solar. PWP is hosting a Solar Power and Battery 101 virtual workshop on Thursday, November 5 at 6 p.m. Register to attend at PWPweb.com/SolarNovember5.

In addition to sharing rebate information, PWP staff will cover the essential steps of solar power and battery storage installation including how to choose reputable vendors, the benefits of solar and battery storage, and navigating permits and electric code requirements.