August 2012 Bill Inserts

• Print Page
• Email Page

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.

• Planting new trees this season?
  Be safe and know what's below.
  Call 811 at least 48 hours before you dig.

• EZpay
  Want to pay by credit card?

• Time-of-use rates may change your business' energy bill. Start preparing with My Energy.
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is committed to helping you succeed with time-of-use rates by providing education, customized tools and resources. Learn more about the upcoming time-of-use transition.
  
  The best way to prepare for time-of-use rates is to have a thorough understanding of the way your business uses energy and how it impacts your bill. Within PG&E’s web-based service, My Energy, you will find several important tools to help you assess your energy use and rate options, and identify ways to save money.
  

See how My Energy tools empower your business.

My Rates: Understand how your rate structure relates to your usage. You can view estimated costs on your current rate and compare against other rates for which you are eligible

My Usage: With a SmartMeter™, you can use My Energy to view your usage and identify the times and activities that influence your bill the most.

Sign up or log in to My Energy today
For questions, call us at 1.800.987.4923

• Agricultural Customers: You may save money by selecting an alternate electric rate schedule
  Electric rate schedules available to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) agricultural customers are summarized below. Your current rate schedule can be found at the beginning of the Electric Account Detail section of your energy statement, or online at www.pge.com/myenergy. Detailed gas and electric rate information is also available at www.pge.com/rateoptions.
  
  A FREE RATE ANALYSIS IS AVAILABLE
  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 perform your own rate analysis online at www.pge.com/ratetools.
  
  ELECTRIC RATE SCHEDULES*
  
  

  AG-1

  is for customers with low annual operating hours (generally less than 500 hours) and who are unable to minimize their electricity use during summer weekdays (May 1 through October 31) from 12–6 p.m. It is not available to customers whose meter registers a maximum demand of 200 kilowatts (kW) or more for three consecutive months.
  
  (Note: A Time-of-Use (TOU) rate may still be the best choice even if you need to run equipment from 12–6 p.m., so please review the TOU rate options below.)
  
  

  Time-of-Use Service

  †: TOU plans offer lower rates during periods when electric demand is low and higher rates when demand is high. A TOU meter is required for all services and must be installed to meet this requirement. There is no charge for the meter installation; however, meter access is required at all times.
  
  

  AG-4

  is 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 12–6 p.m. Service load with a single motor of at least 35 horsepower (hp) or multiple motors of at least 15 hp may save even more on the AG-4C rate schedule if usage can be minimized on summer and winter weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
  
  

  AG-5

  is 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 12–6 p.m. Service load with a single motor of at least 35 hp or multiple motors of at least 15 hp may save even more on the AG-5C rate schedule if usage can be minimized on summer and winter weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
  
  

  Net Energy Metering Service (NEM, NEMFC):

  These schedules are for customers who operate a fuel cell, photovoltaic (solar) system and/or wind electric generating facility on their premises with a maximum total capacity of 1,000 kW. These are available when eligible generation offsets all or part of your electric load when connected to the PG&E grid.
  
  You may interconnect more than one generator, each subject to different rate treatment (for example, NEMFC and NEM solar), on a single account. Contact PG&E at gen@pge.com for more information.
  
  Please visit www.pge.com/gen for current requirements or for more information about additional net metering options.
  
  

  E-SRG

  is available for renewable generators up to 1.5 megawatts. For more information, email gen@pge.com
  
  

  Peak Day Pricing:

  Peak Day Pricing is a Time-Varying Pricing plan that combines Time-Of-Use with Peak Day Pricing Event Day surcharges. Participants will see additional charges during peak hours (weekdays from 2–6 p.m.) on a limited number of Peak Day Pricing Event Days (9–15 annually) and receive credit for all other usage throughout the summer. Notification is provided in advance of Peak Day Pricing Event Days. Bill protection is provided for the first year, so you can participate without risk. If you can reduce or shift use away from higher priced peak periods, you may be able to lower your overall electricity bills.
  
  As of February 1, 2011, bundled service agricultural customers with a demand greater than or equal to 200 kW for three consecutive months began automatically transitioning to Peak Day Pricing. Other eligibility criteria and exclusions apply. To learn more visit www.pge.com/pdp, contact your PG&E Account Manager or call PG&E's Ag Hotline 1-877-311-3276.
  
  

  California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

  provides agricultural customers a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying agricultural housing facilities. For additional information on this program, contact your local PG&E business representative or call PG&E at 1-877-311-3276.
  
  DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS
  

  Demand Bidding Program (E-DBP)

  offers demand metered TOU participants incentives for reducing their power usage when contacted. AG-R1 and AG-V2 customers are not eligible for E-DBP.
  
  

  Base Interruptible Program (E-BIP)

  offers participants incentives for reducing electric load down to a firm service level when contacted. AG-R1 and AG-V2 customers are not eligible for E-BIP.
  
  

  Capacity Bidding Program (E-CBP)

  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/demandresponse for additional requirements and details.
  
  Visit For My Business for information on energy usage, billing history, rate comparison tools, energy outage and restoration status, bill detail, account aggregation and more.
  
  Please note that rate schedules and options may change. For more information about current rate schedules and options for your business, visit www.pge.com/tariffs
  
  * For Direct Access (DA) and Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customers, PG&E delivers the electricity to your home or business, and your DA or CCA provider purchases and/or generates the electricity you consume. Net Metering, CCA and DA customers are eligible for many, but not all, of the rate schedules or features of rate schedules listed in this notice. For more information, call the numbers below or call your DA or CCA provider.
  
  ^† Daylight saving time will end on November 4, 2012 and start again March 13, 2013. During the additional days of daylight saving time, your time-of-use periods will begin and end one hour later.
  
  ¹ AG-R is for customers who need to operate 24 hours a day for up to four consecutive days a week (Thu–Sun or Sat–Tue) during the summer but can minimize use from 12–6 p.m. on the three remaining weekdays.
  
  ² AG-V is 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.
  
  

• Business Customers: You may save money by selecting an alternate rate schedule
  Electric rate schedules available to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) commercial customers are summarized below. Your current rate schedule can be found at the beginning of the Electric Account Detail section of your energy statement, or online at www.pge.com/myenergy. Detailed rate information is also available www.pge.com/rateoptions.
  
  A FREE RATE ANALYSIS IS AVAILABLE
  Contact your local PG&E business representative or call PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743 to request a free electric rate analysis, rate schedule change or additional rate option information. You may also perform your own rate analysis online at {www.pge.com/mybusiness}.
  
  ELECTRIC RATE OPTIONS*
  
  

  Small General Service (A-1):

  This rate schedule includes a customer charge and an energy charge that varies by season. Typical A-1 customers use most of their energy between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. A Time-of-Use rate is available for customers who have SmartMeter™ installed.
  
  

  Small General TOU Service (A-6)†:

  This rate schedule is for customers who use much of their electricity at times other than from noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays. A-6 rates vary by season and by the time of day electricity is used. Rates are lowest between 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays.
  
  

  Medium General Demand-Metered Service (A-10):

  This rate schedule is for customers with monthly demand usage under 500 kilowatts (kW). It includes a higher customer charge but a lower energy charge than A-1 (which varies by season), and an additional charge for demand (measured in kW).
  
  

  Medium General Service Time-of-Use (TOU) Service (A-10 TOU)†:

  This rate schedule is for customers with monthly demand usage under 500 kW. It includes a higher customer charge but a lower energy charge than A-1 (which varies by season and by the time of day electricity is used), and an additional charge for demand (measured in kW). Customers must have an interval meter to participate. Additionally, customers who choose the A-10 rate schedule and have a demand greater than 200 kW for three consecutive months must take service under the TOU provisions of the A-10 rate schedule. A customer whose demand is less than 200 kW and chooses the TOU option must pay for the installation of the interval meter.
  
  

  Medium General Demand-Metered TOU Service, Voluntary Provisions (E-19V)†:

  The voluntary E-19 rate is available for customers whose demand is less than 500 kW. It includes a higher customer charge but a lower energy charge than A-1 (which varies by season and by the time of day electricity is used), and an additional charge for demand (measured in kW).
  
  Accounts billing on mandatory E-19 or E-20 rates cannot participate in any of the rate schedules above. Accounts with demand equal to or greater than 200 kW must be on A-10 TOU, A-6 or E-19V.
  
  

  Net Energy Metering Service (NEM, NEMFC):

  These schedules are for customers who operate a fuel cell, photovoltaic (solar) system and/or wind electric generating facility on their premises with a maximum total capacity of 1,000 kilowatts. These services are available when the eligible generation offsets all or part of a customer’s electric load when connected to the PG&E grid.
  
  Please visit www.pge.com/gen for more information about the net energy metering program and eligibility requirements.
  
  

  E-SRG and E-PWF:

  These are new rate schedules available to renewable generators up to 1.5 megawatts. For more information, email gen@pge.com.
  
  

  Peak Day Pricing†:

  Peak Day Pricing (PDP) is a Time-Varying Pricing plan that combines Time-Of-Use with PDP Event Day surcharges. Participants will see additional charges during peak hours (weekdays from 2–6 p.m.) on a limited number of PDP Event Days (9–15 annually) and receive credit for all other usage throughout the summer. Notification is provided in advance of PDP Event Days. Bill protection is provided for the first year, so you can participate without risk. If you can reduce or shift use away from higher priced peak periods, you may be able to lower your overall electricity bills.
  
  Bundled customers on other rates meeting the interval billed criteria may also qualify to enroll in PDP. For more information, including the default timeline for other rates, visit www.pge.com/pdp.
  
  

  California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE):

  The CARE commercial rate provides customers a monthly discount on energy bills for qualified Group Living Facilities. For additional information on this program, contact your local PG&E business representative or call PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743.
  
  To request a rate schedule change, rate option information, free electric rate analysis or detailed rate schedule information, please visit {www.pge.com/rateoptions} or contact our Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743.
  
  GAS SUPPLIER OPTION
  
  PG&E customers can choose to purchase their gas from a gas supplier other than PG&E.
  
  

  Core Gas Aggregation Service (G-CT):

  If you choose to purchase gas from a supplier other than PG&E, this service provides pricing for only the PG&E gas delivery and service response portion. Your alternative gas supplier provides the gas pricing and/or billing services.
  
  
  GAS RATE OPTIONS FOR LARGER USERS
  
  Noncore end-use customers must secure their gas supplies from a third party and not from PG&E.
  
  

  Gas Transportation Service to Noncore End-Use Customers (G-NT):

  If your average monthly use over the past 12 months has exceeded 20,800 therms (excluding those months during which usage was 200 therms or less), your business can elect to receive noncore (less firm) delivery service, with lower gas delivery rates.
  
  

  Experimental Gas Transportation Service to Noncore Natural Gas Vehicles (G-NGV4):

  If your natural gas fueling station is currently taking service on Schedule G-NGV1 and the average monthly use over the past 12 months has exceeded 20,800 therms (excluding those months during which usage was 200 therms or less), your station can elect to receive noncore (less firm) delivery service, with lower gas delivery rates.
  
  Please note that rate schedules and options may change. For more information about current rate schedules and options for your business, visit www.pge.com/tariffs.
  
  * For Direct Access (DA) and Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customers, PG&E delivers the electricity to your home or business, and your DA or CCA provider purchases and/or generates the electricity you consume. Net Metering, CCA and DA customers are eligible for many, but not all, of the rate schedules or features of rate schedules listed in this notice. For more information, call the numbers below or call your DA or CCA provider.
  
  ^† Daylight saving time will end on November 4, 2012 and start again March 13, 2013. During the additional days of daylight saving time, your time-of-use periods will begin and end one hour later.
  
  

• Notice of Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Energy Efficiency 2013–2014 Portfolio (A.12-07-001)
  On July 2, 2012, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed its 2013-2014 Energy Efficiency Portfolio Application (12-07-001) with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as required by Commission Decision 12-05-015. The application proposes a budget for the design, administration, implementation and evaluation of the company’s proposed energy efficiency programs for the years 2013–2014. As directed by the CPUC, this application also proposes a budget for demand response integrated demand side management activities. PG&E’s currently authorized energy efficiency funding for 2012 is $446 million. PG&E’s proposed energy efficiency funding for 2013 is $429.7 million.
  
  What is the Energy Efficiency Portfolio?
  The Energy Efficiency Portfolio is comprised of a number of programs aimed at promoting the use of high efficiency products, appliances, equipment, services, and practices to reduce energy usage while maintaining a comparable level of service. Energy efficiency activities typically require replacement of older, energy-using equipment with more efficient models. Some examples of these types of equipment include energy efficient heating and air conditioning equipment, refrigerators, clothes washers, and electronic equipment. These upgrades and replacements allow customers to save energy and reduce their impact on the environment. PG&E’s energy efficiency programs provide incentives on equipment and energy information to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers to increase energy efficiency at home and in the work place to reduce energy demand. Through conservation and these energy efficiency measures, PG&E’s customers minimize the need to build new power plants, reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants and improve energy reliability.
  
  What is the Demand Response Portfolio?
  PG&E has a separate budget for its portfolio of demand response programs that was approved by the CPUC in April 2012. Demand response is a reduction or shift in electricity by customers in response to a request by the utility to decrease consumption. This application seeks funding to integrate the Demand Response Portfolio with the Energy Efficiency Portfolio, which is referred to as Integrated Demand Side Management.
  
  What is the impact of PG&E’s request on existing rates?
  Approval of this application would result in a slight decrease of less than one percent to customer rates. As directed by the CPUC, this application also proposes a budget of $3.3 million for demand response integrated demand side management.
  
  
  
  Approval of PG&E’s proposed energy efficiency portfolio budget for 2013–2014 will result in a slight decrease to the gas and electric public purpose program charges. The annual electric energy efficiency budget request will result in a slight decrease in public purpose program charges paid by all electric customers including bundled1, direct access2 and departing load customers that are required to pay public purpose program charges. The annual gas energy efficiency budget request will result in a slight decrease in the 2013–2014 gas public purpose program surcharges paid by residential, commercial and industrial customers.
  
  Approval of PG&E’s proposed demand response integrated demand side management budget is also included in this application and will be incorporated into electric distribution rates. PG&E expects that the rate changes associated with this application will be consolidated with changes in other CPUC proceedings, so the eventual net change in rates for individual customers is difficult to predict.
  
  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. Please specify that you are inquiring about A.12-07-001.
  
  You may request a copy of the application and exhibits by writing to:
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  Energy Efficiency 2013–2014 Portfolio
  P.O. Box 7442
  San Francisco, CA 94120
  
  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.
  
  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 (12-07-001) 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 Energy Efficiency 2013-2014 Portfolio application 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.
  
  

• 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.
  
  Spot the signs of trouble
  
  PG&E regularly inspects all of our pipelines to check for possible leaks or other signs of damage. As an additional safety precaution, we also add a sulfur-like odor to natural gas. If you smell this distinctive "rotten egg" odor, move to a safe location and immediately call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
  
  But don't rely on your nose alone. Other signs of a possible gas leak can include dirt spraying into the air, continual bubbling in a pond or creek and dead or dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area. And always pay attention to hissing, whistling or roaring sounds coming from underground.
  
  For more gas safety information 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
  
  

• Notice of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Compressor Station Forecast Costs Application (A.12-06-010)
  On June 18, 2012, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed Application A.12-06-010 with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requesting approval of a $7.5 million gas procurement forecast to assist in recovering Greenhouse Gas (GHG) compliance costs associated with California Assembly Bill (AB) 32. The projected procurement forecast equals a $3.3 million increase in 2013 gas rates, and a $4.2 million increase in 2014 gas rates.
  
  California Assembly Bill (AB 32) requires the reduction of statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. As part of this legislation, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has adopted a Cap and Trade regulation, which will be implemented on January 1, 2013. As a result of this state law, PG&E will be required to purchase allowances for its GHG emissions. This application requests cost recovery for six gas compressor stations operated by PG&E that emit GHG, and for which PG&E will be required to purchase compliance instruments in the form of allowance and/or offsets.
  
  To pay for the compliance instrument purchases for our gas compressor stations, PG&E proposes an adjustment to its 2013 and 2014 gas rates. PG&E also proposes to track the difference between actual and forecast GHG compliance costs and to adjust rates for any differences in the following year.
  
  Will rates increase as a result of this application?
  Yes, approval of this application will result in a slight rate increase to gas rates of less than one percent for bundled core customers (those who receive gas, distribution and transmission service from PG&E). Approval of this application will increase bundled rates by less than 1 percent. Using the 2014 (the highest single year) cost of $4.2 million, the bundled average residential non-CARE gas rate increase will be 0.07 percent. The impact on currently adopted total illustrative annual gas revenue is an increase in 2014 of 0.12%.
  
  If the CPUC approves this application, a typical non-CARE residential customer using 37 therms of natural gas per month will see his or her average monthly bill change from $46.13 to $46.16, an increase of three cents per month.
  
  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. Please specify that you are inquiring about A.12-06-010.
  
  You may request a copy of the application and exhibits by writing to:
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  Compressor Station Forecast
  P.O. Box 7442
  San Francisco, CA 94120.
  
  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.
  
  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 (12-06-010) 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 Compressor Station Forecast application 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.