Article 1: Stay Cool & Save On Energy During Heat Waves
It’s officially summer – gather your sunscreen, floaties and iced lemonade! Looking for ways to stay cool as a cucumber when the temperatures rise? SDG&E has tips to help keep cool while also saving energy.
Tips to stay cool in high temps
- Escape mid-day summer heat. Visit one of nine Cool Zones open to the public. Find the nearest location at sdge.com/CoolZones. COVID-19 safety measures will be in place.
- Take the heat out of the kitchen. Ovens can raise room temperatures by 10 degrees. Choose no-cook recipes that don’t require the oven like healthy salads, yogurt parfaits and wraps. Plant a vegetable garden for more options or grill outside.
- Use a ceiling or portable fan instead of an air conditioner, when possible.
- Run the A/C early in the morning to cool your home before temperatures rise in the peak hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Close blinds, shades or heat-resistant curtains to block the sun’s heat.
- Block the heat and hot air. Weatherstrip and caulk drafty doors and windows to keep the cold air in and hot air out.
- Open windows at night and early mornings to let the cooler air in.
Tips to save energy and lower your bill
- Run large appliances, such as washers and dryers, before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. Energy demand peaks during those hours and so does the cost of electricity.
- Switch off electronic devices such as computers and gaming consoles when not in use. Electronics in standby mode still draw power. Use a power strip to power down devices and appliances at one time.
- Compare your SDG&E pricing plan to other plans. Being on the right energy plan can add up to real savings on energy bills. Visit sdge.com/pricing to review all energy plan options.
- Sign up for Flex Alerts. As temperatures rise and the power grid is strained, the California Independent System Operator may call on Californians to conserve energy and avoid power outages. Visit flexalert.org to learn more.
- Flex alerts are voluntary calls for Californians to conserve electricity when the power grid is strained. Sign up at flexalert.org.
Visit sdge.com/summer for more helpful energy-saving tips.
Article 1 Translated: Manténgase fresco y ahorre energía durante las olas de calor
¡Llego el verano – agarre su protector solar, flotadores y limonada helada! ¿Está buscando maneras de mantenerse fresco cuando las temperaturas suban? SDG&E tiene consejos para ayudarle a mantenerse fresco y ahorrar energía al mismo tiempo.
Consejos para mantenerse fresco en altas temperaturas
- Escape del calor del mediodía. Visite una de las nueve zonas frescas abiertas al público. Encuentre la ubicación más cercana en sdge.com/Cool-Zone. Se aplicarán medidas de seguridad contra COVID-19.
- Saque el calor de la cocina. Los hornos pueden elevar la temperatura ambiente por 10 grados. Elija recetas que no requieran el horno, como ensaladas, parfaits de yogur y wraps. Plante un huerto para tener más opciones o ase al aire libre.
- Use un ventilador de techo o portátil en lugar de un aire acondicionado, cuando sea posible.
- Encienda el aire acondicionado temprano en la mañana para enfriar su hogar antes de que las temperaturas suban en las horas pico de 4 p.m. a 9 p.m.
- Cierre las persianas, las cortinas o las cortinas resistentes al calor para bloquear el calor del sol.
- Bloquee el calor y el aire caliente. Coloque burletes y selle las puertas y ventanas con corrientes de aire para ayudar a mantener el aire frío adentro y el aire caliente afuera.
- Abra las ventanas por la noche y temprano en la mañana para dejar entrar el aire fresco.
Postas sociales: Consejos para ahorrar energía y reducir su factura
- Use aparatos grandes, como lavadoras y secadoras, antes de las 4 p.m. o después de las 9 p.m. La demanda de energía alcanza su punto máximo durante esas horas y también el costo de la electricidad.
- Apague los dispositivos electrónicos como computadoras y consolas de juego cuando no estén en uso. La electrónica en modo de espera aún consume energía. Use una regleta de enchufe para apagar los dispositivos y electrodomésticos al mismo tiempo.
- Compare su plan tarifario de SDG&E con otros planes. Estar en el plan de energía adecuado puede sumar ahorros reales en sus facturas de energía. Visite sdge.com/pricing para ver todas las opciones de planes de energía.
- Regístrese para recibir Flex Alerts. A medida que las temperaturas aumentan y la red eléctrica se sobrecarga, el Operador Independiente del Sistema de California puede pedir a los californianos que conserven energía para evitar cortes de energía. Visite flexalert.org para inscribirse en #FlexAlerts y para obtener más información.
Visite sdge.com/summer para obtener más consejos para ahorrar energía.
Article 2: Need Help With Your SDG&E Bill?
You may qualify for a bill discount or home improvements. SDG&E’s assistance programs help lower your monthly energy bill while keeping your home comfortable.
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Save 30% or more every month on your energy bill. Find out if you qualify at sdge.com/CARE.
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: If you don’t qualify for CARE and your household has 3 or more people, you may qualify for FERA. You could receive an 18% discount on your electric bill. Visit sdge.com/FERA for more information.
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: You may qualify to receive no-cost, energy-saving improvements for your home, such as new appliances, furnace repair, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESAP.
If you’re behind on your SDG&E bill, you may qualify for financial assistance. Learn more at sdge.com/AMP.
Online applications are easy, fast and convenient. To learn more about SDG&E’s assistance programs, visit sdge.com/assistance.
Article 2 Translated: ¿Necesita ayuda con su FACTURA de energía?
Usted puede calificar para un descuento en su factura o mejoras en el hogar. Los programas de asistencia de SDG&E ayudan a reducir su factura mensual de energía mientras mantiene su hogar cómodo.
Programa de Tarifas Alternativas de Energía de California (CARE, por sus siglas en inglés): Ahorre un 30% o más cada mes en su factura. Averigüe si califica en sdge.com/CARE.
Programa de Asistencia de Tarifa Eléctrica Familiar (FERA, por sus siglas en inglés): Si no califica para el programa de CARE y su hogar tiene 3 o más personas, puede calificar para FERA. Podría recibir un 18% de descuento en su factura de electricidad. Visite sdge.com/FERA para obtener más información.
Programa de Asistencia para el Ahorro de Energía (ESA, por sus siglas en inglés): Puede calificar para recibir mejoras gratuitas para el ahorro de energía en su hogar, tales como electrodomésticos nuevos, reparación de hornos, iluminación, aislamiento y más. Encuentre los detalles en sdge.com/ESAP.
Las aplicaciones en línea son fáciles, rápidas y convenientes. Para obtener más información, visite sdge.com/asistencia.
Article 3: Reduce The Risk Of Wildfire
Did you know you can reduce wildfire risk by creating zones for the plants and trees around your home? It’s a great way to minimize your home’s exposure to risk because you’re modifying the vegetation space around it that may be able to help resist a wildfire.
Stay safe. Take action.
Think smart and don’t leave your safety to chance. Follow these steps to prepare now for an emergency later.
- Develop an emergency plan. Identify a place to meet with family, safe routes and shelters, as well as what actions you will take. Discuss and practice the plan with your family, including your children and pets.
- Prepare an emergency kit. Keep essentials on hand. Stock your kit with items you and your family need, including those with a disability, seniors and your pets. Store supplies in easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks or plastic crates. Visit sdge.com/checklists to learn more.
- Help your neighbors. Being a good neighbor takes more than sharing the occasional cup of sugar or hosting a potluck. It’s important to help our neighbors during emergencies, especially those who are vulnerable, elderly or disabled.
Update your SDG&E contact information
Whatever the circumstances, SDG&E will make every effort to communicate with you during emergencies. Go to sdge.com/myaccount to sign in. From the My Account homepage, click on your profile name in the top right-hand corner, then select “My Profile”.
Sign-up for outage notifications
Get notified when there is an outage in your area. Sign into sdge.com/myaccount. From the My Account Home Page, click on your profile name in the top right-hand corner, then select “Notification Settings”.
Article 4: Contact Digalert Before Your Shovel Hits The Ground
Gas pipelines may be located anywhere, including under streets and sidewalks. You most likely have utility-owned pipelines underground on your property, possibly just inches below the surface.
Excavation, demolition and other forms of digging are a major cause of pipeline damage. It’s important to know where they are before you begin any type of digging.
Whether you’re planning to build a major development or landscaping your yard, take these steps to protect your safety and the safety of those around you:
- Mark out the proposed excavation with white paint or flags.
- Contact DigAlert at 811 or digalert.org at least two working days before you dig (not including the day of notification). DigAlert will arrange for buried utility-owned lines to be located and marked. This service is free.
- Make sure any contractor you hire contacts DigAlert to have utility-owned lines marked before any digging takes place.
Please be aware that SDG&E does not mark customer-owned gas lines. These typically run from the meter to your gas equipment and/or appliances. You will need to call a qualified professional to mark and maintain your gas lines.
Visit sdge.com/safety for more safety tips.