November 2009 Bill Inserts

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Each month, PG&E offers important information on rebates, saving energy and safety in printed inserts that accompany your bill. Now, access this information online whenever you wish.

• ClimateSmart™
  Your home and a SUV have a lot in common
  
  PG&E’s ClimateSmart™ program offers a way to balance out your greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  Does your home emit as much greenhouse gas as an SUV?
  
  The energy that a typical Northern California home uses over the course of a year emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as an SUV.
  
  PG&E’s ClimateSmart™ program is a tax-deductible, charitable way to balance out these emissions.
  
  The typical household’s monthly contribution is less than $5.
  
  To make your home’s energy use carbon neutral, visit joinclimatesmart.com to learn more and sign up for the program.
  
  Together, we can fight climate change.
• 2010 Meter Reading Schedule
  
  
  Our 2010 schedule shows when your meter will be read
  
  We appreciate your help in ensuring our meter readers have access to your gas and electric meters. Use the schedule below as a guide for the monthly dates PG&E will visit your home or business to read your meter.
  
  PG&E’s 2010 Meter-Reading Schedule and Alternative Meter-Reading Methods
  
  Dear Customer: We are currently upgrading all of our meters with SmartMeter™ technology, which automatically transmits to PG&E the reading displayed on the meter. Until your meter can be read remotely by the SmartMeter™ system, a PG&E meter reader will continue to read your meter on a monthly basis. Visit www.pge.com/smartmeter to see when SmartMeter™ technology is being installed in your area.
  
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company meter readers make every effort to read meters monthly. You may want to know when this will be done, or you may be one of our customers who needs to give the meter reader access. If so, here are instructions on how to determine your meter-reading dates:
  
  1. Find your serial “letter” on the detail page(s) of your bill.
  2. Find your serial “letter” on the chart below in “serial” column.
  3. Find the dates we will read your meter(s) in the “month” columns to the right of your letter (February 25 in the example below).
  
  We plan to read your meter(s) on the date shown on the schedule. However, your meter(s) may be read a few days before or after this date.
  
  
  
  
  
  Alternative Meter-Reading Methods
  
  If access to your meter(s) is not available due to locked gates, a hazardous condition or family pets, the following are alternative meter-reading methods that may be considered.
  

  • Customer’s Key: Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s meter-reading department will maintain the security of your personal key for access to your meter. Your key will be used only by authorized personnel.
  • Lock Box: If you have multiple meters at one location, Pacific Gas and Electric Company can install a lock box—free of charge—to hold the key that provides access to your meters. Only authorized Pacific Gas and Electric Company personnel will have access to your key in the lock box.
  • Plastic Card (Self-Read Method*): For this alternative method, you must apply for the Self-Read Method. The meter-reading department in your area will determine if your account will benefit from this method. If approved, our meter-reading department will contact you.

  
  If you use the plastic card, a meter reader must read your meter(s) every six months to verify accuracy. You must provide access on the verified meter-reading date as well as a few days before and after the date. Each month, you must also record the meter readings and document them on the plastic card, which must be placed in a conspicuous agreed-upon location.
  
  *The Self-Read Method is not available for customers with Time-Of-Use meters.
  
  Dog Owners: Safety First!
  
  For the safety of our meter readers, please be sure your pet is secured one day before and one after the read date.
  
  If you have any questions, please call 1-800-743-5000 or look here for more details.
• Winter Gas Savings
  You can earn up to a 20% credit on your gas bill this winter
  
  See how.
• What types of energy resources make up PG&E's power mix?
  PG&E delivers some of the cleanest electric power in the nation. In an average year when rainfall is normal, approximately 50% of the electricity delivered to the 15 million Californians we serve emits no carbon.
  
  
  
  PG&E works with its customers, communities and various stakeholders and agencies to find innovative ways to procure, build and deliver clean energy. We are planning for the future by exploring and investing in new technologies that harvest energy from the sun, ocean waves, tidal currents and agricultural waste. And we are actively investing in state-of-the-art, cleaner sources of fossil-based power to meet growing demand.
  
  Note: Due to rounding conventions, the numbers above add up to to an amount greater than 100%.
• Power Content Label
  Note: This content is provided to you under state legislation (Senate Bill 1305), as implemented by the California Energy Commission.
  
  

  ENERGY RESOURCES	PG&E POWER MIX* (Projected)	2008 CA POWER MIX**1 (For Comparison)
  Eligible Renewable	15%	2%
  • Biomass and waste	4%	0%
  • Geothermal	4%	<1%
  • Small hydroelectric	4%	<1%
  • Solar	<1%	0%
  • Wind	3%	<1%
  Coal	2%	34%
  Large Hydroelectric2	16%	18%
  Natural Gas	47%	42%
  Nuclear	20%	5%
  Other	1%	0%
  TOTAL	100%	100%

  
  * At least 95% of PG&E’s Power Mix is from PG&E-owned resources, purchased from individual suppliers, or provided by the California Department of Water Resources.
  
  ** Percentages are estimated annually by the California Energy Commission based on electricity sold to California consumers during the previous year.
  
  For information about PG&E's Power Mix, contact PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000. For information about the CA Power Mix or for general information about the Power Content Label, contact the California Energy Commission at 1-800-555-7794 or www.energy.ca.gov/consumer.
  
  ¹ 70% of California's electric supply is generated or purchased by the state's investor-owned utilities, the majority of the state's municipal utilities and various other retail energy providers. The 2008 "CA Power Mix" shown above lists the remaining 30% of California’s power that is generated or purchased from other sources.
  
  ² A significant amount of the energy generated by PG&E comes from clean, large hydroelectric power stations, which under California law, do not qualify as an eligible renewable resource.
  
  Note: Due to rounding conventions, the numbers above add up to an amount greater than 100%.
• Ag Rate
  Agricultural Customers:
  
  You may save money by selecting an alternate electric rate schedule.
  
  The electric rate schedules available to agricultural customers are summarized below. Compare your current rate schedule, found at the beginning of the Electric Account Detail section of your Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) bill, with the ones listed below. Detailed gas and electric rate schedule information is available at www.pge.com/rateoptions.
  
  A free rate analysis is available to you:
  
  Contact your local PG&E business representative or call PG&E’s Agricultural Center at 1-877-311-3276 (FARM) to request a free electric rate analysis, rate schedule change, or additional rate option information. You may also do your own rate analysis online at www.pge.com/mybusiness.
  
  Rate schedules:
  
  AG-1: This schedule is not available to customers whose meter registers a maximum demand of 200 kilowatts or more for three consecutive months. Customers who have low annual operating hours (generally less than 500 hours), and those who can’t minimize their use of electricity during the summer weekdays (May 1 through October 31) between noon and 6 p.m. might benefit from this rate schedule.
  
  (Note: A Time-of-Use (TOU) rate may still be the best choice even if you need to run equipment from noon to 6 p.m., so please review the TOU rate options below.)
  
  The TOU schedules listed below may save you money if you are able to shift your hours of energy usage. A TOU meter is required for service on all TOU schedules. If a TOU meter must be installed to meet this requirement, the installation will generally occur within four weeks of your request. There is no charge for the meter installation; however, meter access is required at all times.
  
  AG-4: For customers with moderate annual operating hours (generally 500 to 1,200 hours). Additional savings are possible if you can minimize electricity use on summer weekdays between noon and 6 p.m. Customers whose service has a single motor load of at least 35 horsepower (hp) or multiple motor load of at least 15 hp may save even more on the AG-4C Rate Schedule if they can minimize usage on summer and winter weekdays from 8:30 a.m. through 9:30 p.m.
  
  AG-5: For customers with high annual operating hours (generally greater than 1,200 hours). Additional savings are possible if you can minimize electricity use on summer weekdays between noon and 6 p.m. Customers whose service has a single motor load of at least 35 hp or multiple motor load of at least 15 hp may save even more on the AG-5C Rate Schedule if they can minimize usage on summer and winter weekdays from 8:30 a.m. through 9:30 p.m.
  
  AG-R: For customers who need to operate 24 hours a day for up to four consecutive days a week (Thur–Sun or Sat–Tues) during the summer but can minimize use from noon to 6 p.m. on the three remaining weekdays.
  
  AG-V: For customers who can minimize electricity use on summer weekdays during any one of these time periods: 12–4 p.m.; 1–5 p.m.; or 2–6 p.m.
  
  *NEM: Net Energy Metering Service. For customers qualifying for agricultural rates who operate a photovoltaic (solar) and/or wind electric generating facility with a generating capacity of 1,000 kW or less on their premises that offsets all or part of their electric load while interconnected with PG&E. Agricultural customers must select one of the Agricultural Rate Schedules listed above. Direct Access customers should contact their Energy Service Provider (ESP) for information about the ESP’s net metering program.
  
  *NEMBIO: Net Energy Metering Service for Biogas Customer Generators. A limited pilot program for bundled service customers on TOU rate schedules who operate an eligible Biogas Digester Electrical Generating Facility located on or adjacent to the customer’s premises that offsets all or part of their electric load (including the load from any of their qualifying dairy farm TOU accounts) while interconnected with PG&E. Agricultural customers must select one of the Agricultural Rate Schedules listed above.
  
  *Net metering customers may be responsible for expenses for purchasing and installing metering that can perform net energy measurements.
  
  Customers interested in interconnecting more than one generator, each subject to different rate treatment (for example, NEMBIO and NEM solar) on a single account, can now do so. For further information, contact PG&E via e-mail at gen@pge.com.
  
  Check with Pacific Gas and Electric Company at www.pge.com/gen for current NEM & NEMBIO requirements or for more information.
  
  E-SRG is a new rate schedule available for renewable generators up to 1.5 MW. For more information e-mail gen@pge.com.
  
  Demand Response programs
  
  E-CPP: The Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) Program provides lower energy rates on non-CPP event days in exchange for higher rates on CPP event days. You can maximize your savings by reducing or shifting your energy usage away from the CPP event window on CPP event days. This program is only available to AG-4 and 5 (rate options C&F) customers.
  
  E-DBP: The Demand Bidding Program offers demand metered TOU participants incentives for reducing their power usage when contacted. AG-R and AG-V customers are not eligible.
  
  E-BIP: The Base Interruptible Program offers participants incentives for reducing their electric load down to a firm service level when contacted. AG-R and AG-V customers are not eligible.
  E-CBP: The Capacity Bidding Program offers participants incentives for reducing energy consumption by a nominated capacity amount when contacted.
  
  To see if a demand response program is right for you, please visit www.pge.com for additional program requirements and details.
  
  Please visit the Business Services section for energy-saving tips, safety messages, rebate programs for energy-efficient products and more. You can also obtain information on energy usage, billing history, rate comparison tools, energy outage and restoration status, detail of bill and account aggregation by going to www.pge.com/mybusiness.
• SmartGrid
  Notification of Two Application Filings by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): To Recover in Rates Costs Associated with Smart Grid Costs Relating to the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 (NOs.09-09-018 and 09-09-019)
  
  What are the Smart Grid Applications? PG&E applied for $42.5 million and $25 million, respectively, in federal funds from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for two separate projects related to the development and implementation of Smart Grid technology. In these two applications, PG&E is requesting the authority to recover in rates PG&E’s matching funds to support the funds that may be awarded by the DOE.
  
  DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SMART GRID APPLICATIONS
  
  Smart Grid Application No 09-09-018 (Customer Energy Management programs)
  Detailed Information
  On August 5, 2009, PG&E filed an application with the DOE under the Smart Grid Investment Grant program and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), requesting that DOE award PG&E $42.5 million in federal funds in order to expand and enhance PG&E’s customer energy management programs (including in-premise devices that enable the customer to view and control energy usage), customer services, and grid infrastructure and monitoring.
  
  On September 25, 2009, PG&E filed application 09-09-018 with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requesting authority to increase rates to recover PG&E’s share of the $42.5 million in matching funds for this award starting in 2010.
  
  In its application, PG&E is supported by the following stakeholders in the customer energy management programs project: the City of San Jose, California Independent System Operator, the California Energy Commission, Stanford University Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, IBM, Cisco Systems, Inc, ABB, Inc., and Utility Integration Solutions, Inc.
  
  This Smart Grid project will analyze the use of dynamic rates and innovative user interfaces with demand response, distributed generation, energy efficiency and energy conservation. The project will improve grid performance by using PG&E’s advanced metering infrastructure with Home Area Network (HAN) devices and sensors to monitor and control the operation of electric distribution circuits.
  
  This application requests recovery of PG&E’s share ($23.5 million) of this project cost over the 2010 through 2014 period through a memorandum account. The estimated revenues required from customers range from $1.3 million in 2010 to $8 millions in 2013.
  
  Smart Grid Application No. 09-09-019 (Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES))
  Detailed Information
  On August 26, 2009, PG&E applied to DOE for a Smart Grid Demonstration grant under ARRA for a CAES project. Phase 1 of the project, which will require $25 million in ratepayer funding to match the $25 million in DOE funding, will design and study the feasibility of using off-peak energy, such as intermittent wind energy, to inject compressed air into an underground formation and using that compressed air to generate electricity at peak periods when the renewable energy might not be available.
  
  On September 25, 2009, PG&E filed application 09-09-019 with the CPUC requesting authority to increase rates to recover $25 million in matching funds for this award over the 2010 through 2014 period through a memorandum account. The estimated revenues required from customers range from $0.5 million in 2013 to $12.3 million in 2010.
  
  In its proposal, PG&E is supported by the following stakeholders in the CAES project: Electric Power Research Institute, the California Independent System Operator, the California Energy Commission, Energy Storage and Power, IBM, Black & Veatch, and PayZone.
  
  If the project is successful, it could enable more widespread use of renewable energy to replace fossil energy during times of peak demand.
  
  Will electric rates increase? Yes, this request will result in a slight increase to electric rates for bundled service customers (those using electric generation, transmission and distribution service from PG&E) and for direct access and community choice aggregation customers (those purchasing electricity from non-PG&E suppliers). Approval of one or both of these applications will increase bundled rates by less than one percent. Using the 2010 (highest single year) combined cost of $13.6 million, the bundled system average rate increase will be 0.1 percent, over current rates.
  
  THE CPUC PROCESS
  
  The CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) will review these Applications. DRA is an independent arm of the CPUC, created by the Legislature to represent the interests of all utility customers throughout the state and obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. DRA has a multi-disciplinary staff with expertise in economics, finance, accounting and engineering. DRA’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the CPUC. Other parties of record will also participate.
  
  The CPUC may hold evidentiary hearings where parties of record present their proposals in testimony and are subject to cross-examination before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). These hearings are open to the public, but only those who are parties of record can present evidence or cross-examine witnesses during evidentiary hearings. Members of the public may attend these hearings, but are not allowed to participate, only listen.
  After considering all proposals and evidence presented during the hearing process, the ALJ will issue a draft decision. When the CPUC acts on these applications, it may adopt all or part of PG&E’s request, amend or modify them or deny the applications. The CPUC’s final decisions may be different from PG&E’s proposed application filings.
  
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
  
  To request a copy of one or both applications and exhibits or for more details call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
  
  You may request a copy of one or both applications and exhibits by writing to:
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  Smart Grid Applications
  P.O. Box 7442
  San Francisco, CA 94120.
  
  You may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor with comments or questions as follows:
  Public Advisor’s Office
  505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  1-415-703-2074 or 1-866-849-8390 (toll free)
  TTY 1-415-703-5282, TTY 1-866-836-7825 (toll free)
  E-mail to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
  
  If you are writing a letter to the Public Advisor’s Office, please include the number(s) (09-09-018 and/or 09-09-019) of the application(s) to which you are referring. All comments will be circulated to the Commissioners, the assigned Administrative Law Judge and the Energy Division staff.
  
  Reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission.
• Long Term Request for Offers
  Notification of Application Filing by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): To Recover in Rates Costs Associated with Agreement from Its 2008 Long Term Request for Offers
  
  What is the 2008 Long Term Request For Offers (LT-RFO)
  The 2008 LT-RFO is a competitive solicitation process that was used by PG&E to acquire or contract for generation resources to ensure reliable electrical supply in PG&E’s service area. The need for these new resources was determined by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in Decision No. 07-12-052.
  
  On September 29, 2009, PG&E filed an Application in which PG&E requested the CPUC to approve the terms and conditions, including cost recovery, of an agreement for PG&E to purchase from a third party developer a new 580 MW electrical generating facility (Contra Costa Generating Station) to be constructed in Oakley, California. The facility is forecasted to be operational in mid-2014, at which point it would be transferred by the developer to PG&E.
  
  Detailed information about PG&E’s Application:
  PG&E’s Application requests authorization to recover in electric rates the costs associated with the acquisition and initial operation of the Contra Costa Generating Station in order to improve PG&E’s ability to provide a reliable supply of electricity.
  
  Will electric rates increase? Yes. PG&E is requesting an increase in electric rates for the cost of the new utility- owned generation. If the Application is approved by the CPUC, rates for existing bundled customers (those who receive electric generation as well as transmission and distribution services from PG&E) will increase by $227 million, or 1.8 percent, in 2015, (relative to current rates), which is the first and highest single year of recovery. In general, rates for existing direct access customers (those who purchase their electricity from non-PG&E suppliers) will not be subject to change. Finally, customers who depart PG&E’s bundled service in the future may be responsible for a portion of these costs via a non-by passable charge. The rate changes proposed in the Application for 2015 are provided by customer class in the table below.
  
  
  
  If the Commission approves the Application, a typical residential customer using 550 kilowatt-hours per month will see the average monthly bill change from $74.07 to $74.50, an increase of $0.43 per month. A residential customer using 850 kilowatt-hours per month, which is about twice the baseline allowance, will see the average monthly bill change from $163.68 to $166.93, an increase of $3.25 per month. Individual bills may differ.
  
  THE CPUC PROCESS
  
  The CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) will review this Application. DRA is an independent arm of the CPUC, created by the Legislature to represent the interests of all utility customers throughout the state and obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. DRA has a multi-disciplinary staff with expertise in economics, finance, accounting and engineering. DRA’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the CPUC. Other parties of record will also participate.
  
  The CPUC may hold evidentiary hearings where parties of record present their proposals in testimony and are subject to cross-examination before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). These hearings are open to the public, but only those who are parties of record can present evidence or cross-examine witnesses during evidentiary hearings. Members of the public may attend these hearings, but are not allowed to participate, only listen.
  After considering all proposals and evidence presented during the hearing process, the ALJ will issue a draft decision. When the CPUC acts on this Application, it may adopt all or part of PG&E’s request, amend or modify it or deny the Application. The CPUC’s final decision may be different from PG&E’s proposed Application filing.
  
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
  
  For more details, call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
  
  You may request a copy of the application and exhibits by writing to:
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  LTRFO Application
  P.O. Box 7442
  San Francisco, CA 94120
  
  You may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor with comments or questions as follows:
  Public Advisor’s Office
  505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  1-415-703-2074 or 1-866-849-8390 (toll free)
  TTY 1-415-703-5282, TTY 1-866-836-7825 (toll free)
  E-mail to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
  
  If you are writing a letter to the Public Advisor’s Office, please include the name of the application to which you are referring. All comments will be circulated to the Commissioners, the assigned Administrative Law Judge and the Energy Division staff.
  
  Reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission.
• Section 739 Residential Electric Rates Change
  Notification of Application Filing of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): For Expedited Authorization to Change Residential Electric Rates Effective January 1, 2010, as Permitted by Newly Enacted Public Utilities Code Section 739.9
  
  Detailed information about this Application:
  
  On October 14, 2009, PG&E filed an Application for expedited Commission authorization to change residential electric rates effective January 1, 2010. The requested rate change is permitted by newly enacted Public Utilities Code Section 739.9, which allows the Commission to approve increases in rates for residential Tiers 1 and 2 (low monthly usage) in accordance with specific formulas. Specifically, PG&E proposes to increase Tier 1 and Tier 2 rates on rate schedule E-1 by 5.0 percent and to decrease Tier 3, 4, and 5 rates commensurately. PG&E proposes no change in rates for customers in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program. The relief PG&E requests in this Application will not change PG&E’s authorized overall electric revenue requirement or the revenue assigned to the residential class. To implement this rate change on January 1, 2010, PG&E is proposing an expedited procedural schedule.
  
  Will rates increase?
  
  Non-CARE residential electric rates on schedule E-1 will increase by 5 percent for Tiers 1 and 2 and will decrease commensurately for Tiers 3, 4 and 5. Whether a residential customer’s bill will increase or decrease will depend upon the customer’s electricity usage. Other rates will not be affected.
  
  If the Commission approves the Application, rate changes are limited to the residential class. Charges for bundled residential customers will change. The change to charges for direct access residential customers (those who purchase their electricity from non-PG&E suppliers) is minimal.
  
  A typical bundled residential customer (one who receives electric generation as well as transmission and distribution services from PG&E) using 550 kilowatt-hours per month will see the average monthly bill change from $74.13 to $76.63, an increase of $2.50 per month or 3.4 percent. A bundled residential customer using 850 kilowatt-hours per month, which is about twice the baseline allowance, will see the average monthly bill change from $164.15 to $163.46, a decrease of $0.69 per month or 0.4 percent. A bundled residential customer using 1500 kilowatt-hours per month will see the average monthly bill change from $434.98 to $419.66, a decrease of $15.32 or 3.5 percent. Individual bills may differ.
  
  The CPUC process
  
  The CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) will review this Application. DRA is an independent arm of the CPUC, created by the Legislature to represent the interests of all utility customers throughout the state and obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. DRA has a multi-disciplinary staff with expertise in economics, finance, accounting and engineering. DRA’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the CPUC. Other parties of record will also participate.
  
  The CPUC may hold evidentiary hearings where parties of record present their proposals in testimony and are subject to cross-examination before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). These hearings are open to the public, but only those who are parties of record can present evidence or cross-examine witnesses during evidentiary hearings. Members of the public may attend these hearings, but are not allowed to participate, only listen.
  
  After considering all proposals and evidence presented during the hearing process, the ALJ will issue a draft decision. When the CPUC acts on this Application, it may adopt all or part of PG&E’s request, amend or modify it or deny the Application. The CPUC’s final decision may be different from PG&E’s proposed Application filing.
  
  For further information
  
  For more details, call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
  
  You may request a copy of the application and exhibits by writing to:
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  Residential Electric Rates Change Application
  P.O. Box 7442
  San Francisco, CA 94120
  
  You may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor with comments or questions as follows:
  Public Advisor’s Office
  505 Van Ness Avenue
  Room 2103
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  1-415-703-2074 or 1-866-849-8390 (toll free)
  TTY 1-415-703-5282, TTY 1-866-836-7825 (toll free)
  E-mail to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
  
  If you are writing a letter to the Public Advisor’s Office, please include the name of the application to which you are referring. All comments will be circulated to the Commissioners, the assigned Administrative Law Judge and the Energy Division staff.