| | It's Time For Spring Cleaning! | |
| |
- If you have a service contract to have your heating and air conditioning systems inspected once
a year, be sure to make your appointment now.
- Clean or replace your air conditioner filter, to further get your unit ready for the cooling season.
- With the wet weather behind us, check to see if any leaks allowed water to damage your
insulation. Insulation that has been compressed, displaced, or otherwise damaged is less
effective.
- If you have foundation vents, be sure to open these to allow cool air under your home.
- Be certain to seal any cracks in your home that may have appeared during the winter months.
| |
| | Resources to Help Save You Money | |
|
Single Family Rebates: Equipment rebates for PG&E customers. For details, go to www.pge.com/res/rebates
or call PG&E's Smarter Energy Line at 800-933-9555.
CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy): For details, call PG&E at 866-743-2273 or email at
careandenergypartners@pge.com
REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help): For details, contact the Salvation Army at
800-933-9677
LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program): For details,go to www.csd.ca.gov/LIHEAP.html call
866-675-6623
|
| | Cooling and Insulation | |
- Consider investing in a whole-house fan. Running one of these in the early morning can help
keep your house cool the rest of the day.
- Move lamps or TV sets away from your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat
from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
- New, dual paned windows can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your home.
|
| | Refrigeration | |
- Have PG&E pay you to take away that old refrigerator in your garage and save as much as $160 every year.
- Clean the coils on your refrigerator to improve efficiency.
|
| | Lighting | |
- Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent. These produce less heat, reducing the amount of time your air conditioner will be running.
- If you are installing outdoor lighting, consider solar-powered lights. Not only will they reduce your electricity bill, they are quicker and easier to install since they have no wiring.
|
| | Alternative ways to save money | |
You may save money if you reduce your energy use from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 800-743-5000 for a
free rate analysis or go to
http://www.pge.com/rates_regulations/rate_info/rate_options/res
|
| | Self Generation | |
California offers an upfront rebate to help with the cost of certain renewable energy systems. For
systems sized up to 30 kilowatts, you may receive up to $2.80 per watt if you install solar panels on
your
property. For details, go to www.consumerenergycenter.org
If you generate more electricity than you consume, you may receive a credit from PG&E. If you are on a
Time-of-Use schedule, the credit may be very high during peak hours. For information on PG&E’s Net
Energy Metering Programs, call (415) 972-5676 or go to www.pge.com/suppliers_purchasing/
new_generator/solar_wind_generators/standard_e_net
Also, you may receive a tax credit up to 7.5% of the system cost after rebates; this credit may end this
year. These systems may also be exempt from property tax. For details, go to www.consumerenergycenter.org
|
| | Base Load Price | |
With baseline pricing, the price charged per kWh increases with the amount of electricity used. The rate
increases in tiers based on a baseline amount. The table below is a representative residential bill for a new home in San Joaquin County.
|
| | As shown in the table, the rate goes up quickly when you
use over 100% of your baseline amount. If you regularly
exceed your baseline amount, your energy saving actions
will pay off with greater cost savings because each Kwh you
save is worth more. For more information, please go to
www.intergycorp.com/sanjoaquin_energy_efficiency/utilitybill.html |
| Tier | Usage(Kwh) | Rate ($/Kwh) | Cost |
| Baseline Usage | 489.80 | 0.12589 | $61.66 |
| 101-130% of Baseline | 146.94 | 0.14321 | $21.04 |
| 131-200% of Baseline | 342.86 | 0.17953 | $61.55 |
| Totals | 1100.00 | | $169.62 |
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