August 2012 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.

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• 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, 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
  
  

• 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.