Energy Curtailment

November 20, 2018

Energy Curtailment 2018

Heating and ventilation will again be curtailed on the Berkeley campus during the period from the end of the business day Friday, December 21, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. During the entire curtailment period, faculty and staff are encouraged to plan to be away from campus. Reducing energy and steam use during the winter break last year created cost savings to the campus of approximately $67,000.

During this period only heat and ventilation will be curtailed in the affected buildings; normal electric service will be maintained at all times.  Heads of units with temperature-sensitive facilities, essential research, and public service operations currently scheduled for curtailment may request an exemption by completing the Request for Exemption form, which can be downloaded from the webpage above. This form must be submitted no later than Friday, December 7, 2018.

Requests for exemption will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. controlled temperature required for research area or other specific area;
  2. operating chemical fume hoods;
  3. essential safety, security, or accounting operations;
  4. retail business;
  5. theater and sports events scheduled and contracted prior to the date of this announcement;
  6. essential medical facility; and
  7. monitoring system needs.

Labs and research buildings are encouraged to participate in energy curtailment – please contact the Energy Office at energyoffice@berkeley.edu to discuss options. Units interested in curtailing energy for a longer period of time are also welcome to contact the Energy Office to find out how.

Any technical questions regarding the curtailment should be directed to the Energy Office at the email address above. Policy or contract questions concerning curtailment should be directed to your Employee Relations Specialist.