CALIFORNIA
Fall energy bills to include $55.17 California Climate Credit for PG&E electric customers
In October, millions of residential and eligible small business customers will receive the California Climate Credit on their PG&E electric bill. Customers do not need to do anything to receive the credit.
Residential households with an active electric account will receive an electric credit of $55.17, the same amount they received in the spring. The twice-a-year electric credit was first delivered in April, in addition to an annual natural gas credit of $85.46 for residential customers with a natural gas account. Combined-use customers’ total bill credits for 2024 is $195.80.
Eligible small business customers will receive the electric credit in October, bringing their total bill credits for 2024 to $110.34.
“This credit is a ‘win-win’ for our customers. The California Climate Credit helps reduce customers energy bills, and reduces our state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E senior vice president, Customer Experience.
The California Climate Credit is part of the state’s efforts to fight climate change and is distributed by PG&E to customers as directed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The California Climate Credit is a direct result of the state’s nation-leading Cap-and-Trade Program that requires polluters to pay for climate pollution. The bill credit is designed to help utility customers during the transition to a more sustainable future.
In addition to the California Climate Credit, customers are encouraged to explore other ways to save energy, reduce costs on monthly bills, and contribute to building a sustainable future.
Income-eligible assistance programs
California Alternate Rates for Energy: provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity bills.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA): provides a monthly discount of 18% on electricity for households of three or more people.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA): provides energy-savings improvements at no charge.
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,000 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.Other programs include Medical Baseline, which offers a lower monthly rate for customers with certain medical conditions.
For more ways to manage your monthly bills and prepare your home for cooler temperatures visit: Save Energy & Money.
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LAKE COUNTY
Coastal Clean-Up 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Saturday at Austin Park
This Saturday, Citizens Caring for Clearlake hosting a community clean-up at Austin Beach (Clearlake) from 9 a.m. to 12, and we need your help! Let’s come together to keep our beautiful coastline clean and protect our environment.
All volunteers will be provided with grabbers, vests, gloves, bags, and water, so just bring your energy and enthusiasm! This is a great way to give back, meet like-minded people, and make a difference in our local community.
Site locations: Austing Beach (Clearlake), Library Park (Lakeport), Rodman Slough (Nice), Habematolel EPA Office (Upper Lake). Lucerne Harbor (Lucerne), Highland Springs Park (Lakeport and Kelseyville), grabbers, vest, gloves, bags, and water is provided. For more information or to sign up and volunteer call or email: Linda Rosas-Bill, Water Resources Coordinator at Linda.Rosas-Bill@LakeCountyCA.gov or call 707-263-2344.
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CALIFORNIA
Californians can now store driver’s licenses, state IDs in Apple Wallet
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California will begin offering residents the option to securely add their California driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on their iPhone and Apple Watch. Californians will be able to use this new feature in person at select businesses and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints, including at San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Today’s announcement is part of California’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program, which is limited to 1.5 million participants. Last month, Governor Newsom announced Californians can add their mobile driver’s license to Google Wallet.
“Enabling California residents to seamlessly add and present their IDs with their iPhone or Apple Watch represents a significant step in replacing the physical wallet with a more secure and private digital wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “The launch also represents an important milestone in the rollout of IDs in Apple Wallet. Not only is California one of the largest states in the U.S., but it’s also our own backyard, and we’re excited to bring an easy and transparent way to present IDs in our home state.
“We are happy to be working with Apple to bring California driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet to our customers, providing them with an easy, secure and private way to present their ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “The DMV continues to grow as a mobile-first organization, and this is one more opportunity to provide a safe and secure option for Californians.”“I am pleased to see the continued momentum of the mDL pilot project,” said State Chief Information Officer and Department of Technology Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “California continues to lead the nation in testing and leveraging technology to connect State services to residents’ mobile phones making it easier for Californians to safely access information like their identification and other state credentials.”
Adding a California driver’s license or state ID in Apple Wallet
Adding a license or ID to the Apple Wallet can be done in a few easy steps. Californians can tap the + button at the top of the screen in Wallet on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the on-screen instructions to start the setup and verification process.
To help ensure that the person adding the identity card to Apple Wallet is the same person to whom the identity card belongs, the user will be asked to take a selfie and scan the front and back of their driver’s license or state ID card, which will be securely provided to the DMV for verification.
Once added, Californians can present their driver’s license or state ID by simply holding their iPhone or Apple Watch near an identity reader. Upon holding their iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader, only the information needed for the transaction is presented, and users will have the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested before it is shared. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.
A user’s information is encrypted on a user’s device, so others – including Apple – cannot access it unless a user chooses to present it. Apple does not retain any presentment information that can be tied back to a user. Apple and the DMV do not know when or to whom you present your driver’s license or state ID.
Offering a California ID or mDL in Apple Wallet does not replace the requirement for individuals to carry a physical card while driving, but it does provide Californians another convenient option for identity verification and more control over how they share their information.
More information about California IDs in Apple Wallet as well as other California-issued mDLs can be found at dmv.ca.gov/mDL.
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