OAKLAND
California climate credit totaling up to $91.17 to help customers with high winter bills
Residential customers will automatically receive the California Climate Credit earlier than usual this year. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved distributing the credit as soon as possible, instead of the annual April timeframe. The Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is pleased to administer the credit to help reduce customer energy bills. This credit will help offset higher than normal natural gas and electricity bills, which have been increasing due to higher demand and tighter natural gas supplies, especially on the West Coast.
For natural gas residential customers, the credit will be $52.78, and for electric residential customers, the credit will be $38.39. Customers who receive both services will receive a total credit of $91.17.
“PG&E recognizes our responsibility to serve our customers safely and reliably while keeping their energy bills as low as possible. With the price PG&E pays for natural gas rising this year, this credit is great news for PG&E customers, who are likely noticing higher than average bills,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E’s Vice President of Customer Operations and Enablement.
California requires power plants, natural gas providers and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits from auctions managed by the California Air Resources Board. The California Climate Credit is customers’ share of the payments from the state’s program.
Customers do not need to do anything to receive the credit, it will automatically appear as an adjustment on a customer’s bill under the Adjustments Section on the Detailed Charges page.
Ways to reduce energy bills
Here are several tools that customers can use now to manage winter bills.
- Make sure you’re on the right rate plan. Get a personalized Rate Plan Comparison to find the best rate plan for how your household uses energy.
- Budget Billing keeps bills predictable by leveling out monthly payments to offset high seasonal bills.
- Bill Forecast Alerts are notifications sent by email, text or phone notifying the customer if their monthly bill is expected to exceed a specific amount set by the customer.
- Flexible payment arrangements. Extend your bill due date or make a payment arrangement. Access your online account for details.
Residential customers receive the Climate Credit twice a year, typically in April and October.
To learn more about the Climate Credit, visit the CPUC’s California Climate Credit page at https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ClimateCredit/
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SACRAMENTO
ACWA supports California water agencies’ Colorado River proposal
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Dave Eggerton released the following statement today in support of California water agencies’ proposed modeling framework to reduce Colorado River water usage in the Basin. The framework was submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation January 31.
“ACWA stands united with California water agencies in their proposed approach to achieve water use reductions while supporting 40 million people and nearly 6 million acres of farmland that depend on the Colorado River. California has and will continue to lead the way in reducing reliance on Colorado River supplies, with agencies working together over the last 15 years to keep more than 1.5 million acre-feet of water in Lake Mead; investing billions of dollars in urban and agricultural water conservation, saving millions of acre-feet of Colorado River water in the last decade; and making historic investments in the development of local water supplies with some of the largest water reuse projects ever contemplated in the world.
“The modeling framework they have presented outlines a constructive approach to achieving additional water use reductions while protecting both the state and nation’s economy and prioritizing public health and safety.
“ACWA offers its support as California’s agricultural and urban water agencies and tribes continue to work together with the other basin state partners to develop a consensus-based approach to managing the very challenging drought conditions on the Colorado River for the benefit of the state’s communities, businesses and farms.”
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