PG&E Offers Wide Variety of Resources to Reduce Energy Usage, Costs
January 20 2022 - 11:18AM
Business Wire
Here are Ways to Reduce Winter Energy Bills and
Get Help Paying Them
By taking advantage of some simple, realistic steps, customers
can reduce energy bills this winter. Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) knows some customers may be experiencing higher
energy bills this winter.
A decline in natural gas production during the initial months of
the pandemic, combined with drought conditions reducing
hydroelectric generation is impacting the cost of natural gas
around the nation. Natural gas prices from November 2021 to January
2022 are 90% higher than last winter. PG&E passes the cost of
energy purchases – both gas and electricity – to its customers with
no mark-up, meaning that what customers pay for fuel costs is what
PG&E pays.
“We take a number of actions to reduce the impact of volatile
natural gas prices but recognize even these proactive measures
can’t prevent a spike like this from impacting a customer’s monthly
bill. That’s why we are encouraging customers to act now by making
simple changes, checking available rate options, and ensuring they
are aware of and participating in financial assistance programs, if
eligible,” said Aaron August, PG&E’s Vice President of Business
Development and Customer Engagement.
Ways to Save Energy this Winter
Heating can account for more than 40% of energy costs. Here are
ways to make sure that you’re getting the most from the money you
spend on heating your home or business:
- Set the thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, health
permitting. Save 2% for each degree the thermostat is
lowered.
- Install and properly set a programmable thermostat. With
proper use, programmable thermostats can save about $180 every year
in energy costs.
- Clean or replace furnace filters monthly to improve
efficiency and save up to $15 a year.
- Use window coverings to prevent the outside temperature
from impacting the temperature inside the home. Closing blinds or
drapes on a cold winter day can help to keep the cold from
migrating further into the room.
Additionally, PG&E continues to work with customers who are
having difficulty paying their bills.
In September 2021, PG&E began automatically enrolling all
residential and small business customers with past due balances
over 60 days in new extended payment arrangements. Customers are
being automatically enrolled on an ongoing basis based on
eligibility through September 2022.
As of December 2021, nearly 1 million PG&E customers were
enrolled in the payment plans as well as the Arrearage Management
Plan (AMP), both focused on helping
customers reduce unpaid balances over time and protecting those
enrolled from disconnection once the process restarts later this
year.
Get Help with Past Due Bills
Customers struggling to pay their bills can learn more about the
following programs:
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers up to
$1,000 to pay eligible household energy costs.
- Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH)
Program offers one-time financial assistance to qualified customers
with past-due bills.
- The Arrearage Management Plan offers up to $8,000 in unpaid
balance forgiveness to qualifying customers who owe at least $500
or more on their gas and electric bill or at least $250 or more on
their gas only bill and are more than 90 days past due.
- The newly established California Arrearage Payment Program
(CAPP) included in the 2021-2022 California state budget offers
financial assistance for eligible customers with past due energy
bill balances accrued during the pandemic.
- Customers do not need to apply. The funding will be
automatically distributed to qualifying customers in February and
March 2022.
- Only energy bill balances over 60 days past due for energy use
from March 4, 2020, to June 15, 2021, qualify for relief under
CAPP.
- If a customer still has a past due balance after receiving a
CAPP benefit, PG&E will offer a payment plan.
- For additional questions on the program: contact the California
Department of Community Services & Development.
- California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Act helps income-eligible
households pay rent and utilities, both for past due and future
payments. Renters and landlords are eligible to apply.
Ways to Reduce Future Energy Bills
Customers may also qualify for several programs at once and can
start applying or enrolling now.
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program saves 20%
or more each month on energy bills for income-qualified
customers.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program offers a monthly
discount on electric bills for income-qualified customers with
three or more people in the household.
- Medical Baseline provides a lower monthly rate for customers
with special energy needs due to certain medical conditions.
- Budget Billing averages out energy costs for more manageable
monthly payments and eliminates big spikes in bills due to seasonal
changes.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program provides qualified
customers with free improvements to make the home more energy
efficient, safe, and comfortable.
For more information please don’t hesitate to call (800)
743-5000 or log onto pge.com/covid19.
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.
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