January 2010 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.

• Our Energy Partners Program offers free services to help reduce your energy usage
  The PG&E Energy Partners Program offers income-qualified customers who own or rent a home free energy education and weatherization measures which may include:
  

  • refrigerator replacement
  • door replacement and weather-stripping
  • attic insulation
  • compact fluorescent lighting

  
  Customers who qualify for a monthly discount through California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) may also be eligible for the Energy Partners Program. To find out more, call 1-800-989-9744 or visit www.pge.com/energypartners.
• Lower Your Thermostat This Winter and Earn a Bill Credit
  With PG&E's Winter Gas Savings program, you can save as much as 20 percent.
  
  We know with the tough economic times, managing your energy bill can be difficult. That’s why we want to introduce you to our Winter Gas Savings program. It’s an easy way to save as much as 20 percent on your winter gas bill.
  
  Here’s how the Winter Gas Savings program works:
  

  • PG&E customers are automatically enrolled.
  • Simply reduce your gas usage by 10 percent or more in January and February and receive a 20 percent credit on your bill this spring.
  • If your gas savings is below 10 percent, you’ll receive a one-to-one credit (e.g., save 5 percent and earn a 5 percent credit).
  • The more you reduce, the more you earn.

  
  With our online tips, tools and resources, conserving gas can be easier than you ever imagined. Simply go to our interactive Web site, where you can:
  

  • Print a list of more than a dozen gas-saving tips for every area of your home.
  • Download a desktop tool that delivers daily tips.
  • Check out a savings calculator that highlights small adjustments that can result in big savings.
  • Send a talking appliance-gram to friends and family asking them to save, too.

  
  Visit www.pge.com/wintergassavings and start saving today.
• Notification of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s 2011 General Rate Case (GRC) Application Filing A.09-12-020
  WHAT IS A GRC?
  
  Every three or four years, investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are required to file a General Rate Case (GRC) in which the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) sets annual revenue levels. Annual revenue is the total amount of money a utility collects through rates in a given year for specific purposes.
  
  On December 21, 2009, PG&E filed an application asking the CPUC to increase the revenue that PG&E uses to distribute gas and electricity and to generate electricity. While the GRC will determine the total amount of money PG&E can collect in rates, the design of the actual rates themselves (that is, the level of prices charged to customers) will be determined in separate proceedings to be filed in the future with the CPUC.
  
  As part of this GRC, PG&E is also proposing changes to the operating hours for certain of its customer service counters at its local offices. Specifically, PG&E requests that the CPUC authorize PG&E to standardize business hours at all 75 local offices, such that all would open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday).
  
  PG&E REQUESTS A TOTAL INCREASE OF $1.101 BILLION FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC SERVICE, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
  
  PG&E is requesting a total revenue increase of $1.101 billion over the currently authorized revenues for electric distribution and generation and gas distribution for 2011, with such increase to be effective on January 1, 2011. This increase consists of the following:
  

  • An increase in electric revenues of $888 million over the currently authorized levels for 2011. This increase is made up of two elements: (1) the cost of delivering electricity to PG&E’s customers ($557 million); and (2) the cost of operating PG&E’s power plants ($331 million). This increase does not include the cost of electricity procured for PG&E’s customers, as such costs are recovered in a separate proceeding.
  • An increase in gas revenues of $213 million over the currently authorized level for 2011. This increase does not include the cost of gas procured for PG&E’s customers, as such costs are also recovered in a separate proceeding.

  
  PG&E is also requesting approval for additional revenue in 2012 and 2013 to cover increasing costs due to plant investment and inflation. PG&E estimates that these increases will total $275 million in 2012 and $343 million in 2013. These amounts are subject to adjustment if certain fees and taxes paid by PG&E increase or decrease in these years.
  
  KEY REASONS WHY PG&E IS ASKING FOR INCREASES ARE:
  

  • To continue to invest in and maintain the system of power plants, poles, wires, pipes and equipment needed to deliver electricity and gas to PG&E’s customers; and
  • To maintain the support structure necessary to keep PG&E operating and to provide PG&E’s customers with safe, reliable and responsive customer service.

  
  During the proceedings, updated information may be introduced that could change the amounts PG&E has requested. What the CPUC adopts may differ from what PG&E has requested.
  
  ESTIMATED IMPACT OF THIS REQUEST ON ELECTRIC RATES
  
  PG&E estimates that, initially, the requested $888 million increase in electric revenues would be distributed in the manner shown in the table below. The actual distribution of the increase to each customer class depends on how the CPUC ultimately decides all issues in the GRC, as well as in the separate electric rate design proceeding expected to be filed with the CPUC in March 2010.
  
  
  
  If the CPUC approves PG&E’s request for an electric rate increase, the bill for a typical bundled residential customer using 550 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month would increase $2.37, or 3.2 percent, from $74.13 to $76.50. The bill for a typical residential customer using 850 kWh per month would increase by $17.44, or 10.6 percent, from $164.15 to $181.59. Individual customer bills may differ. Rates would become effective on January 1, 2011.
  
  ESTIMATED IMPACT OF THIS REQUEST ON GAS RATES
  
  PG&E estimates that, initially, the requested $213 million increase in gas revenues would be distributed in the manner shown in the table below. The actual distribution of the increase to each customer class depends on how the CPUC ultimately decides all issues in the GRC, as well as in the separate gas rate design proceeding expected to be filed with the CPUC sometime in the future.
  
  
  
  If the CPUC approves PG&E’s request for a gas rate increase, the bill for a typical bundled residential customer using 40 therms per month would increase $3.15, or 5.7 percent, from $55.38 to $58.53. Individual customer bills may differ. Rates would become effective on January 1, 2011.
  
  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HEARINGS (PPHs)
  
  The CPUC welcomes the public’s participation. Before acting on PG&E’s application, the CPUC will hold PPHs to provide customers with an opportunity to express their views before a CPUC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Notification of these hearings will be sent to you either by a separate mailing or included as a bill insert. The notice will identify all of the locations that the PPHs are being held for your convenience and planning.
  
  Those customers who cannot attend a hearing may submit written comments to the CPUC at the address listed on back. All such correspondence to the CPUC should include a reference to PG&E’s 2011 GRC application (A.09-12-020).
  
  THE CPUC PROCESS
  
  The CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) will review this application. The 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. The DRA has a multi-disciplinary staff with expertise in economics, finance, accounting and engineering. The DRA’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the CPUC. Other parties of record will also participate.
  
  In addition to public participation hearings, the CPUC will hold evidentiary hearings for the GRC application in 2010 where parties of record present their proposals in testimony and are subject to cross-examination before an 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, but not participate in, these hearings.
  
  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 application.
  
  If you would like to participate in the evidentiary hearings as a party of record, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor at the address below.
  
  The Public Advisor
  California Public Utilities Commission
  505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  1-415-703-2074
  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 of the application (A.09-12-020) to which you are referring. All comments will be circulated to the Commissioners, the assigned ALJ and the Energy Division staff.
  
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
  
  For more details, call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
  For TDD/TTY(speech-hearing impaired), call 1-800-652-4712.
  
  If you have questions regarding the GRC application, please contact PG&E at the phone numbers noted above. If you would like a copy of the application and exhibits, please write to PG&E at the address listed below:
  
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  2011 General Rate Case Application
  P.O. Box 7442, San Francisco, CA 94120
  
  A copy of PG&E’s 2011 GRC application and exhibits are also available for review at the California Public Utilities Commission, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.
• Proposition 65—Public Warning
  The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly referred to as Proposition 65, requires the governor to publish a list of chemicals “known to the State of California” to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. It also requires California businesses to warn the public quarterly of potential exposures to these chemicals that result from their operations.
  
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) uses chemicals in its operations that are “known to the State of California” to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
  
  For example, PG&E uses natural gas and petroleum products in its operations. PG&E also delivers natural gas to its customers. Petroleum products, natural gas and their combustion by-products contain chemicals “known to the State of California” to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
  
  A warning odorant is added to natural gas so that leaks of unburned gas can be quickly detected. If gas odor is detected, PG&E should be contacted immediately at 1-800-PGE-5000 (1-800-743-5000).
  
  For additional information on this Proposition 65 warning, write to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Prop. 65 Coordinator, 77 Beale Street B23H, PO Box 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177.