High Sierra Energy Foundation and LADWP Partner to Help Inyo County Improve Energy Efficiency Through Building Assessments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

High Sierra Energy Foundation and LADWP Partner to Help Inyo County Improve Energy Efficiency Through Building Assessments

Bishop, CA – August  11, 2026 – The High Sierra Energy Foundation (HSEF) through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) Community Partnership Grant is pleased to announce support to the Owens Valley region via public agency building energy assessments.

Under the program, HSEF coordinates site visits to County of Inyo buildings served by LADWP. These visits provide an opportunity to evaluate the energy performance of individual buildings as well as support compiling a comprehensive building inventory. Analysis of energy usage is often the first step to saving on utility bills.

The County has accounts with both LADWP and Southern California Edison (SCE), depending on the location of the county building. Through California Public Utility Commission’s public use dollars, public agency SCE-served buildings are eligible for energy audits—a process in which the County was already engaged. With HSEF’s request to and approval from LADWP, they have been able to help the County round out its portfolio and understand its energy usage across a broader scope.

During a building energy assessment, the HSEF team and a contracted energy engineer walk through a building with representatives from the County’s operation and maintenance staff. They discuss building use, hours of operation, and occupancy comfort while simultaneously photographing and documenting energy-using appliances like water heaters, HVAC units, and lighting. Site visits yield a report with recommendations and a workbook cataloging equipment.

“These building assessments provide Inyo County with valuable information that will help us make informed decisions about future investments in our facilities. By better understanding how our buildings use energy, we can identify opportunities to reduce operating costs, improve building performance, and be good stewards of public resources. We’re grateful to LADWP and the High Sierra Energy Foundation for making this work possible,” said Meaghan McCamman, Inyo County’s Deputy County Administrator Officer.

“By bringing together funding, technical expertise, and local partnerships, we’re helping the County build a more complete understanding of its facilities and identify opportunities to save energy and taxpayer dollars for years to come,” said Pam Close Bold, Executive Director of HSEF.

LADWP and HSEF have collaborated successfully through the Community Partnership Grant since 2018, providing nearly $75,000 in community benefit funding. Demonstration projects like the building energy assessment project align with LADWP’s broader support of energy efficiency in the Owens Valley that includes a variety of bill assistance and incentive programs available to residential customers.

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About the High Sierra Energy Foundation

The High Sierra Energy Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in the Eastern Sierra. The HSEF has been a trusted partner of LADWP since 2018, delivering energy efficiency programs and outreach initiatives to the Owens Valley. Through education, outreach, and program development, the HSEF strives to help customers, small businesses, and public agencies reduce their environmental impact through energy efficiency and conservation. For more information about the High Sierra Energy Foundation and its work in the Eastern Sierra, visit HighSierraEnergy.org.

About the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal water and power utility in the nation, was established more than 100 years ago to deliver reliable and safe water and electricity to almost 4 million residents and businesses in Los Angeles. For more information about the LADWP’s support of the Owens Valley, visit LADWP.com/EasternSierra. To learn about financial assistance, programs and rebates go to LADWP.com/Residential-Services.

News Staff