ARTICLE: ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY?
Living in an area prone to wildfires and earthquakes means it’s crucial to have an emergency plan in place. The best time to prepare for an emergency is now—before one happens. Here are some helpful tips from SDG&E to enhance your response time and ensure the safety of your loved ones:
- Develop an evacuation plan. Create a home evacuation plan that includes multiple escape routes. Practice the plan with your family, including pets and livestock. For personalized tips, visit sdge.com/checklist.
- Review emergency plans. Familiarize yourself with emergency plans at your workplace, school or other places where you or your family spend time regularly.
- Pack an emergency kit. Assemble a kit with essential items such as non-perishable foods, bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlight, cash, pet food, manual can opener, medications, an overnight bag with clothes and toiletries, and a portable radio with fresh batteries. For more ideas, visit sdge.com/checklist.
- Update contact info. Ensure your contact information with SDG&E is current. Update or confirm your info at MyEnergyCenter.com. After logging in, select “Account” and then “My Profile.”
- Sign up for alerts. Register for SDSG&E power outage alerts. Learn more at sdge.com/notifications or login to MyEnergyCenter.com. Select “Account,” “Notification Settings” and then “Outages & Gas Leaks.”
ARTICLE: HAVE YOU VISITED THE NEW MY ENERGY CENTER?
SDG&E’s My Account has transitioned to My Energy Center, a safe and secure portal that makes it easy to manage your energy usage and costs.
While My Energy Center is an upgrade, rest assured that the security and convenient features you know from My Account remain intact – like viewing and paying your bill, Auto Pay, paperless billing and scheduling services online or on the app.
Working with the region’s two Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) – Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) and San Diego Community Power (SDCP) – My Energy Center features a new level of transparency to help you better understand your bill and manage your energy use.
My Energy Center customer benefits include:
- User-friendly breakdown of charges. View your energy delivery costs from SDG&E and your electric usage info, whether you receive service from a CCA or SDG&E.
- Greater insights into usage patterns. Gain a deeper understanding of your gas and electricity usage to find ways to save energy and lower your bill.
- Ease of access. Access My Energy Center at MyEnergyCenter.com.
If you were previously enrolled in My Account, you can simply log in with your existing username and password. If you already have the SDG&E mobile app, it will automatically update to the new My Energy Center app.
For more info, visit sdge.com/MEC.
ARTICLE: NEED HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILL?
If you are having trouble paying your energy bill, you might be eligible for programs and services that can provide financial assistance and help you avoid interruptions to your service. Flexible payment arrangements are also 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 do not qualify for CARE and your household has three 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, like new appliances, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESA.
- 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.
Even if you made a recent payment or set up a flexible payment plan with SDG&E, there may still be assistance programs available to help you. For a complete list of available offerings, visit sdge.com/assistance.
ARTICLE (translated): ¿NECESITA AYUDA CON SU FACTURA DE ENERGÍA?
Usted puede calificar para un descuento en su factura o mejoras en el hogar. Hay programas de asistencia que pueden ayudar 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/CAREesp.
- Tarifa Eléctrica Familiar (FERA, por sus siglas en inglés): Si no califica para 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/FERAesp 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, iluminación, aislamiento y más. Encuentre los detalles en sdge.com/ESAesp.
- Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): Si tiene facturas pendientes y es participante en el programa de CARE o FERA, puede ser elegible para la condonación de deudas. Averigüe si califica en sdge.com/AMPesp.
Las aplicaciones en línea son fáciles, rápidas y convenientes. Para obtener más información, visite sdge.com/asistencia.
ARTICLE: PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR FALL: 10 ENERGY-EFFICIENCY TIPS
As the leaves change color and the weather gets cooler, it’s a great time to think about how you can save on your energy bill. Here are some ideas to help you keep your home cozy without breaking the bank. Simple adjustments can make an impact on your energy savings this season.
- Seal drafts: Check your windows and doors for any drafts. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal up any gaps. This will keep the warm air inside and the cold air out, making your heating system work more efficiently.
- Adjust your thermostat: Lowering your thermostat by just a few degrees can make a big difference. Try setting it to 68°F when you’re home and awake and lower it when you’re asleep or away. A programmable thermostat can make this even easier.
- Maintain your heating system. Make sure your heating system is running efficiently by scheduling a maintenance check. Replace filters regularly to ensure your system is working at its best.
- Unplug electronics. Even when they’re turned off, electronics can still use energy if they’re plugged in. Unplug devices when they’re not in use or use a power strip to easily turn off multiple items at once.
- Use ceiling fans wisely. Set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This will push warm air down from the ceiling, helping to keep your rooms warmer.
- Close the fireplace damper. When your fireplace is not in use, make sure the damper is closed. An open damper allows warm air to escape up the chimney.
- Use rugs. Cover bare floors with rugs to help insulate your home. Rugs can help keep your feet warm and reduce the need for extra heating.
- Take shorter showers. Hot water can be a big energy expense. Try to take shorter showers and consider installing a low-flow showerhead to reduce water usage.
- Insulate your home. Adding insulation to your attic, walls, and floors can help keep the heat in and the cold out. This can make a big difference in your energy usage.
- Use natural light. Take advantage of the sun’s natural heat by opening curtains and blinds during the day. This can help warm up your home without using extra energy.
By following these tips, you can enjoy a warm and cozy home this fall while keeping your energy bills under control. Find more energy-saving tips at sdge.com/MyEnergy.