July 2011 Bill Inserts
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.
- Know what's belowCall 811 before you dig
A common cause of pipeline accidents is damage from excavation. If you plan on digging or trenching, please call Underground Service Alert (USA) by dialing 811 at least two working days before you begin. This free service will notify underground utilities in the area of your planned work. PG&E will locate and mark our underground gas and electric facilities.
To learn more - Proposition 65 – Public WarningThe 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.
Signs of a gas leak: Don't rely solely on your nose
A warning odorant is added to natural gas so that leaks of unburned gas can be quickly detected, however the following signs may also indicate the presence of a gas leak: a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas appliance or pipeline; a rotten-egg smell; a damaged connection to a gas appliance; dead or dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area over or near pipeline areas; dirt or water being thrown in the air; a fire or explosion near a pipeline; and an exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster.
If you detect a gas leak, you should contact PG&E immediately at 1-800-743-5000. For more gas safety information, visit www.pge.com/safety
For additional information on this Proposition 65 warning, write to:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Proposition 65 Coordinator
77 Beale Street, Mail Code B23H
PO Box 770000
San Francisco, CA 94177 - Notification of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's 2012 Electric Procurement Forecast Costs and Other Project Costs ApplicationOn June 1, 2011, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed application 11-06-004 with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to request an increase in electricity rates of $205 million, or an average of approximately 1.6 percent, effective January 1, 2012. This increase is due primarily to rising energy prices as compared with the current costs reflected in PG&E rates.
Each year, PG&E is required to file an application that forecasts how much it will spend the following year to ensure an adequate supply of electricity for its customers. The CPUC carefully reviews PG&E's forecast to ensure that customers are not charged more for electricity than it costs PG&E to provide. The forecasted costs approved by the CPUC are included in PG&E's electric rates the following year. During that year, PG&E's actual costs and revenues are tracked, and any difference is allocated to PG&E's customers at a later date.
This application requests that the CPUC adopt PG&E's 2012 electric procurement forecast of approximately $4.5 billion for the Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) and Generation Non Bypassable Forecast costs. PG&E recovers its electric procurement costs dollar for dollar, with no profit margin.
Will rates increase as a result of this application?
Yes, because of rising energy costs, rates will increase for most customers; although impacts for individual customers will vary. As shown in the table below, bundled customers, or those customers who receive electric generation as well as transmission and distribution service from PG&E, will see rate increases. Most direct access customers, or those customers who purchase their energy from a non-utility supplier, will see rate decreases.
If the CPUC approves this application, a typical bundled residential customer using 550 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will see his or her average monthly bill change from $79.70 to $80.61, an increase of $0.91 per month. A residential customer using 850 kWh per month, which is about twice the baseline allowance, will see his or her average monthly bill change from $178.64 to $183.97, an increase of $5.33 per month. Individual customers' bills may differ.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
To request a copy of the application and exhibits or for more details, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. For TDD/TTY (speech-hearing impaired), call 1-800-652-4712.
You may request a copy of the application and exhibits by writing to:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
2012 ERRA and 2012 Generation Non Bypassable Forecast Proceeding
P.O. Box 7442, San Francisco, CA 94120
THE CPUC PROCESS
The CPUC's Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) and the Energy Division 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 may 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 may 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 learn how you can participate in this proceeding or if you have comments or questions, you may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor 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 or 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.11-06-004) to which you are referring. All comments will be circulated to the Commissioners, the assigned Administrative Law Judge and the Energy Division staff.
A copy of PG&E's 2012 ERRA and 2012 Non Generation Forecast Proceeding and exhibits are also available for review at the California Public Utilities Commission, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–noon and on the CPUC's website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc.
