| | It's Time to Get Ready for Winter: | |
| |
- Have your heating system inspected to make certain it is operating efficiently.
- Clean or replace your heater's filter.
- Check to see if there is any damage to your insulation. Insulation that has been compressed, displaced, or otherwise damaged is less effective.
- If you have foundation vents, be sure to close these to block cool air getting under your home.
- Be certain to seal any cracks in your home to keep in the warm air.
| |
| | 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
|
| | Heating and Insulation | |
- Improve the seal on your home. Weather-strip or caulk drafty window and door frames. Make certain your windows seal tight by installing locks.
- The attic is a major source of winter heat loss, so adding insulation can help lower your energy bill.
- If you don't have double-paned windows, install plastic film on the inside of your window panes. This can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
- Add insulation around your water heater and around hot water pipes and heating ducts located in unheated spaces.
|
| | 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 | |
- Use LED holiday lighting in place of regular holiday lights, they use 99% less energy and last 50,000 to 100,000 hours.
- Use energy efficient lamps - fluorescent lights come in a wide variety of attractive models, not just the exposed screw-type.
|
| | 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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