The ClimateSmart program was launched in 2007 as a three-year demonstration program and was extended until the end of 2011.

The program is ending because its core goals have been met. These goals include educating PG&E customers about how their energy usage relates to Green House Gas emissions (GHG) emissions and providing an opportunity for them to reduce those emissions; contracting for 1.36 million metric tons of GHG emission reductions; helping to develop and road-test protocols for a transparent and rigorous carbon offset market; and providing key support for the non-profit California Climate Action Registry (now Climate Action Reserve) which is now a highly regarded national offsets program.

For customers currently enrolled in the ClimateSmart Program, PG&E will discontinue charging customers for this program as of their December 2011 bill. Other PG&E customers will experience no bill impacts as a result of this change.

No, tax deductions from the ClimateSmart program contributions made during 2011 are valid for the 2011 tax year. Customers who contributed to the ClimateSmart program during 2011 will receive a statement for their taxable contributions in early 2012.

One hundred percent of your contributions to the ClimateSmart program go directly to the GHG reduction and capture projects under contract to balance out the GHG emissions associated with your energy use. These diverse projects include conserving and restoring native redwood forests, destroying refrigerants from old refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, and capturing methane gas from dairy farms and landfills.

Under the ClimateSmart program, the GHG emission reduction credits purchased with customer contributions will be permanently retired on behalf of you, the enrolled ClimateSmart customer. This means they cannot be used for any other purpose by PG&E or anyone else. All projects are independently verified, registered, and retired under the stringent protocols of the Climate Action Reserve, a non-profit organization.

Your ClimateSmart program contribution is directly based on your energy use each month. Therefore, you will cease to balance out the carbon dioxide emissions associated with your energy use once your ClimateSmart program contributions cease.

As a PG&E customer, you already receive among the cleanest energy in the nation. In fact, PG&E's most recent independently verified carbon dioxide emissions rate of 575 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour is about half the national average among utilities. In addition, PG&E remains committed to providing our customers with sustainable energy solutions that fit their needs. To explore more ways to reduce your carbon footprint visit our residential website or business website .

We are evaluating the current program to inform direction of any future similar program. In the meantime, we encourage our customers to learn about the many resources PG&E offers for sustainable energy management, which include robust energy efficiency, demand response, and solar energy programs and incentives. To learn more, go to our website.

Absolutely. Scientists continue to report new signs that global warming is occurring—reinforcing the urgent need for action. As an emitter of greenhouse gases and a provider of energy to millions of Californians, PG&E has a responsibility to both manage our carbon footprint and also to work constructively to advance policies and programs that put the nation on a path toward a low-carbon economy.

PG&E remains firmly committed and is taking a lead in various parts of our business, including delivering some of the nation's cleanest electric power and supporting our customers through one of the country's most successful energy-efficiency programs.

PG&E was the first investor-owned utility to support California's enactment of AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006), which goes into effect in 2012 and sets a goal of reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. PG&E continues to work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the responsible implementation of AB 32.

At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to move forward with its rulemaking process to establish a regulatory regime for greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources and PG&E is actively participating in this process.

Much of our climate change advocacy work is done through coalitions, including the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), which consists of major businesses and leading environmental organizations. PG&E was also an original member of the Clean Energy Group, a coalition of environmentally progressive utilities advocating for a national, mandatory, market-based approach to curbing greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector.

Because the ClimateSmart program (approved in Decision 06-12-032 in December of 2006 and extended through December 31, 2011 in Decision 10-10-025) is under the California Public Utilities Commission's authority, PG&E has no authority to continue the program in its current form beyond December 31, 2011.

We are evaluating the current program to inform direction of any future similar program. In the meantime, we encourage our customers to learn about the many resources PG&E offers for sustainable energy management, which can be viewed on our website.

While the ClimateSmart program will cease to accept contributions from customers after December of 2011, the projects will continue to deliver GHG emission reductions for the duration of each contract. In some cases, this is many years into the future.

Yes, we are in regular contact with them, and they are aware that the program will close at the end of this year.

For more information you can call PG&E 1-877-353-8676 or email climatesmart@pge.com