OAKLAND, Calif. — As summer arrives with triple-digit temperatures in many parts of Northern and Central California today that have resulted in a heat advisory today for much of the Bay Area, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) encourages customers to take steps to conserve energy to avoid bill surprises as the mercury rises.
According to PG&E’s in-house meteorologists, temperatures are forecast to begin climbing today and result in widespread triple-digit heat across the inland valleys and interior, including many parts of the Bay Area. On Wednesday, temperatures are expected to drop but remain high in many Bay Area locations.
As homes across the state crank up the air conditioning to battle the high temperatures, this can put pressure not only on the grid but also on energy bills as air conditioning is one of the biggest drivers of energy consumption in the home that can increase bills quickly.
PG&E encourages customers to take simple and inexpensive steps to minimize increases in their monthly energy bill this summer while keeping the comfort inside their home.
Five Simple Ways to Save
- Raise the thermostat and turn it up or off when leaving. Customers can save on annual cooling costs for each degree the temperature is increased in their home during the hot summer months. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees when at home, health permitting. Turn it up to 85 degrees when not at home.
- Install a smart thermostat. Enroll in PG&E’s SmartAC Program and receive a smart thermostat at no cost[1] after instant enrollment bonuses.
- Check air filters once a month. Dirty filters cause the system to work harder to keep the area cool, wasting energy and money.
- Replace Inefficient Appliances and Electronics. Find and compare top energy efficient appliances and electronics. Check out customer ratings and available rebates to determine the best option for your home. Visit PG&E’s new Energy Action Guide for more information.
- Sign up for programs: Income-qualified programs offering a monthly discount include the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) and the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program. Some may also qualify for the Energy Saving Assistance Program offering free improvements to make the home more efficient, safe and comfortable.
Other programs include Medical Baseline offering a lower monthly rate for customers with certain medical conditions, Budget Billing averages out energy costs for more predictable monthly payments, and Bill Forecast Alerts are notifications when a monthly bill is expected to exceed a specific amount set by the customer.
For more ways to save at home, click on PG&E’s easy-to-use energy-saving checklist and pge.com/summer.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
[1] Tax and shipping not included. Offers valid while supplies last. Prices shown reflect rebates plus enrollment in PG&E SmartAC Program. Rebate limitations apply. Offer does not apply to previous purchases. Restrictions may apply.
