Article: EVER WONDER WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR IN YOUR SDG&E BILL?
The rising cost of energy is straining a lot of Southern California households. SDG&E hears your concerns and wants you to know what you are paying for. Supplying power to the community includes the cost of energy production, delivering that energy, plus the costs of building and maintaining infrastructure that ensures clean, safe and reliable energy in the future.
Why is SDG&E’s pricing higher than other utilities?
- We use a higher amount of renewable energy to address climate change than other utilities
- We have developed the nation’s leading wildfire safety program to keep communities safe
- Technology subsidies required by the state and paid for by customers, such as Net Energy Metering, increases electricity costs for customers without solar by about $260 per year
- Legislative mandates that account for about 24% of electricity rates
- We make improvements to ensure the power grid remains safe and reliable
Your energy bill is impacted by weather, how much energy you use and energy market conditions. What you may not know is that your energy bill is also impacted by regulatory proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SDG&E, alongside consumer advocates and other key stakeholders, participates in many CPUC proceedings throughout the year. SDG&E works aggressively to reduce the energy cost burden on its customers while continuing the pursuit of California’s ambitious climate goals.
The price SDG&E pays for electricity and natural gas is the exact same price our customers are charged. There is no markup of any kind and SDG&E makes no profit on energy procurement. There are no quick fixes for lowering the cost of energy but SDG&E provides several programs for those needing payment assistance. Learn more at sdge.com/assistance.
To learn more about SDG&E’s energy pricing, visit sdgeratesinfo.com.
Article: NEED HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILL?
SDG&E recognizes that this is still a challenging time for many customers and may be able to help if you are having trouble paying your bill. You may be eligible for programs and services that can provide immediate financial assistance and help you avoid interruptions in your service. Flexible payment arrangements are available to help you pay down past due balances. Learn more at sdge.com/Payment-Arrangements.
Check out these energy assistance programs:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Save 30% or more every month on your 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 to learn more.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: You may qualify to receive free energy-saving improvements for your home, such as new appliances, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESAP.
- Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): If you have outstanding bills and you are a CARE or FERA customer, you may be eligible for debt forgiveness. See if you qualify at sdge.com/AMP.
- Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Offers up to $1,000 towards your energy bill. This Federal assistance program also provides support for energy-related home improvements. Learn more at sdge.com/LIHEAP.
Even if you made a recent payment or set up a flexible payment plan with SDG&E, there may still be assistance programs to help you. For a complete list of available offerings, visit sdge.com/assistance.
Article: LOWER ENERGY USE IN YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS
Did you know that, according to energystar.gov, the top energy consumers in a typical office are lighting, cooling and computers? Here are some ideas to help you save on your business’s energy use.
Save on cooling:
Cooling (and heating) makes up about 40% of the energy used in commercial buildings. To keep your HVAC system running efficiently, regularly change or clean HVAC filters every month during peak cooling or heating seasons. Dirty filters cost more to use, overwork the equipment and result in lower indoor air quality. Make sure that areas in front of vents are clear of furniture and paper. As much as 25 percent more energy is required to distribute air if your vents are blocked.
Save on lighting:
Use motion detectors to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas and photocells to turn lights off automatically when enough daylight is detected. Install energy-efficient LEDs and task lighting to illuminate workspaces. Maximize daylight ― sunlight is free! Remove unnecessary lamps in overlit areas.
Save on equipment costs:
Turn off office equipment, including monitors and printers, along with lights. Activate sleep settings on your office equipment. Consolidate the number of printers in your office. Use “smart” power strips to reduce the amount of energy used by electronic equipment. Visit sdge.com/My-Business for more energy-saving tips and information on business pricing plans.
Article: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NO-COST TRAINING FROM ENERGY EXPERTS
Did you know that SDG&E provides webinars for business owners and trade professionals, so you can learn new skills at your own pace? And most are at no cost. You or your employees can learn about the latest in green building practices, technology and energy-saving solutions from industry experts. Certifications and continuing education units are available for many classes. Check out the class listing at sdge.com/EnergyClasses.
Some of June’s topics include:
- June 7: Welcome to Facility Management Part 1
- June 7: HVAC Efficient Operation of Motors Part 1
- June 15: Flow Meters – You need to measure water to manage water
- June 16: Light and Health – New data and new standards on the horizon
- Various dates: IHACI Air Distribution Module
- June 28: Advanced CBEEC-Res energy modeling software for residential buildings
- June 30: Best Practices for Industrial and Warehouse Lighting