As National and Global Events Cause the Cost of Natural Gas to Increase, PG&E Takes Steps to Reduce Impacts and Offers Ways for Customers to Save on Their Energy Bills
November 17 2021 - 11:55AM
Business Wire
Winter is Almost Here: Act Now to Prepare and
Save Energy this Season
Winter chills mean the heating system and water heaters in your
home may need to work harder, which ultimately impacts pocketbooks.
And, this year, the commodity price of natural gas is rising across
the nation and around the world, which will affect all of us.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) passes through the
commodity cost of natural gas to our customers with no markup.
“We use various strategies throughout the year to secure
favorable pricing for the natural gas we purchase for our
customers, in addition to offering a variety of programs to help
customers manage energy costs. As we continue to attempt to
alleviate the price swings, we encourage our customers to take
extra steps now that will help them get ready and save all winter
long,” said Marlene Santos, PG&E’s Chief Customer Officer.
PG&E takes several steps to reduce the impact of volatile
gas prices on our customers. These include:
- Buying natural gas at times throughout the year when it’s less
expensive,
- Using our gas storage facilities like McDonald Island, as well
as other independently owned gas storage fields in northern
California to store less expensive gas purchases for cold winter
months, when prices and customer demand are higher,
- Contracting for pipeline access to multiple gas production
geographic areas to secure lower priced gas, and
- Engaging in financial hedging to limit the impact of price
volatility on customer bills.
PG&E wants customers to be aware of ways to save energy and
money as we head into the winter months. PG&E offers the
following tips to safely reduce the cost of keeping warm.
- Lower thermostat: Setting the thermostat to 68 degrees
(health permitting) during the cooler months can save up to 15% on
energy bills. Save about 2% on your heating bill for each degree
the thermostat is lowered (if the turndown lasts a good part of the
day or night).
- Control water temperature: Set your water heater
thermostat at 120°F or lower. This way you'll reduce the amount of
energy it takes to produce and maintain your hot water by not
overheating it.
- Stop drafts in their tracks: Save up to 10% on annual
energy costs by reducing drafts and saving energy by sealing holes
around pipes, wiring, vents or recessed lights with foam or
caulk.
- Keep warm air moving: Reverse your fan in winter to
produce a gentle updraft, forcing warm air near the ceiling down
into the living space.
- Don’t close vents in unused rooms: Closed registers
force the same amount of air through other ducts. This builds
pressure in the system and makes the HVAC work harder to distribute
air where needed.
- Invest in energy-saving products: Install a programmable
thermostat to save about $180 annually in energy costs.
- Enroll in a monthly discount program: Qualifying
customers can apply for a monthly discount through the California
Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE)
- Get help making energy-saving improvements: Qualifying
customers can receive free energy efficiency upgrades through the
Energy Savings Assistance Program.
For more tips on saving energy this winter, visit
www.pge.com/winter.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric
utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square
miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006135/en/
MEDIA RELATIONS: 415-973-5930
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024