Article 1: 10 WAYS TO SAVE ON HEATING COSTS THIS WINTER
Spending more time at home this winter means energy use could be higher and your monthly bill may be, too. SDG&E has some helpful tips on ways to save on your energy bill. We know that every little bit helps, especially now.
- Being on the right pricing plan can make a difference on your bill. Compare pricing plans to ensure you are on the best plan for your household at sdge.com/pricing.
- Use appliances before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. when demand for power is lower.
- Use your exhaust fans sparingly. Your bathroom fans and oven hoods are overlooked sources of heat loss in the winter because they can pull warmth from your home.
- Get a more predictable bill by signing up for the Level Pay Plan at sdge.com/LPP. Level Pay averages your bill every three months; you don’t pay less or more.
- Let the sunshine in. Take advantage of the world’s best furnace — the sun! Open your curtains during the day to naturally heat your home.
- When you’re asleep or not home, turn your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs.
- Check your home’s insulation. It’s like a winter coat for your house. The heavier it is, the warmer your home will be.
- Hot air rises so run your ceiling fan clockwise, at the lowest speed, to help push the warmth back down to you.
- Use less hot water as it takes energy to heat up water; wash your clothes in cold water and install low-flow faucets and showerheads.
- Move furniture and belongings away from heating vents so they can deliver all the heat you’re paying for.
Visit sdge.com/winter for more energy-saving ideas.
Article 2: ARE YOU BEHIND ON YOUR SDG&E BILL?
If you have outstanding bills, and you are a CARE or FERA customer, you may be eligible for debt forgiveness through SDG&E’s Arrearage Management Payment (AMP) Plan. This plan offers qualified, current SDG&E customers financial assistance to help reduce past due account balances.
AMP is a 12-month payment plan that forgives 1/12 of a participant’s debt after each on-time payment of the current month’s bill. After 12 on-time payments of each current month’s bill, the participant’s debt will be fully forgiven up to a maximum of $8,000. Enrolled participants are protected from disconnection while participating. Find out if you qualify at sdge.com/AMP or call an SDG&E AMP Service Specialist at 1-888-204-3576.
Find out if you qualify for other SDG&E Assistance programs at sdge.com/assistance. Although business customers are not eligible for AMP, we may be able to offer flexible payment arrangements. Call our Business Care Center at 1-800-336-7343 for payment arrangements, energy-saving tips and pricing plan options, or visit sdge.com/business.
Article 3: 10 WATER HEATER TIPS TO PUT SAFETY AND SAVINGS ON TAP
Keep safety and energy savings on tap year-round with these simple tips for your home water heater.
- Set the water heater thermostat to 120°F or less to save energy and reduce the risk of scalding. (If your dishwasher lacks a booster heater, a setting of 140°F may be needed.)
- Hand-test water temperature before bathing or showering. A child’s bath water generally should be no hotter than 100°F.
- Securely install water heater restraints to wall studs to prevent movement or toppling during an earthquake, as required by state law.
- Keep flammable products away from the water heater and vent system to help prevent fire hazards.
- Keep the area around the water heater clean and well-ventilated.
- Fix leaky faucets to prevent heated water from dripping away.
- Use cold water to wash clothes and rinse dishes when possible.
- Run full loads in the clothes washer and dishwasher.
- Install low-flow devices on faucets and showerheads — less water, less heating.
- Wash clothes in cold water. It lowers microfiber pollution and cold water uses less energy. Up to 90% of the energy cost goes towards heating the water.
For more energy-saving and safety tips visit sdge.com/winter.