PG&E's Winter Gas Savings Program Helps Customers Save Money

Customers Will Earn Automatic Credits for Conserving Energy in December and January

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Dec 01, 2011, 11:30 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced the launch of its annual Winter Gas Savings program, which gives eligible residential and business customers an automatic bill credit when they reduce their natural gas usage over the next two months compared to the previous three winters. Last winter, some 2.7 million customers earned bill credits totaling $70 million.

Customers who conserve up to 10 percent will receive an equal percentage credit on their February or March gas bills. Customers who conserve 10 percent or more will receive a 20 percent credit. To make the baseline comparison valid, usage data will be adjusted for weather.

"Our customers have shown their commitment to using energy efficiently time and again," said Steven Malnight, PG&E's vice president of Customer Energy Solutions. "We are excited to offer the Winter Gas Savings program, which rewards customers who conserve and helps them to lower their bill."

Customers can take simple steps to reduce their gas consumption and save money:

Lower the thermostat to 68 degrees during the daytime (health permitting)
Set the water heater to 120 degrees or the "normal" setting
Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot
Open blinds and drapes on sunny days
Microwave small amounts of food instead of heating them up in the oven

Customers can find informative tips, tools and resources for conserving gas by visiting www.pge.com/wintergassavings.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company