SAN DIEGO, May 26, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the peak power-demand season and hotter weather approaching, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is launching a new conservation effort, the Summer Energy-Savings Reward Program. The program offers customers a one-time, 20-percent credit on their SDG&E bill if they reduce their electricity use an average of 20 percent between July 1 and Oct. 31, 2005, compared to the same four-month period last year.
The utility is urging residential customers and businesses to start thinking now about ways to trim their electricity use this summer and earn a conservation credit on their utility bill. Customers are enrolled in the program automatically, so it's easy - all they have to do is start saving energy.
"We want to remind customers to get into the energy-saving habit early, so they'll qualify for the bill credit this year, but conservation has many other benefits as well," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer service for SDG&E. "By cutting back on electricity use, especially during peak-use times, they can help the state avoid power emergencies, protect the environment, reduce their overall energy costs, plus get money back. It's a win-win all the way around."
Throughout the summer, customers can keep track of how they're doing by looking at the energy use comparison on the bottom of their bill. Those who qualify will see the 20-percent credit on either their November or December 2005 bill, depending on the timing of their billing cycle.
"Our message is simple: this summer, 20/20 can save you plenty," added Mueller. "Even more important, we're counting on customers' conservation efforts to help us get through the peak days in August and September this year, just as they have responded so well in the past."
In 2001, in the midst of the state's energy crisis, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) introduced a similar incentive program to encourage conservation and avoid rolling blackouts. The CPUC decided to reinstate the program this year because of concerns over the adequacy of state power supplies this summer. According to the California Independent System Operator, the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, peak demand for electricity grew 4 percent last year from 2003 levels.
SDG&E experienced a similar level of demand growth in the same period, but expects a more modest demand growth this year of about 1 percent to 2 percent.
SDG&E offers several incentive and rebate programs to help residential and business customers achieve the 20/20 energy-savings goal. These include rebates for installing more efficient appliances and air-conditioning systems, as well as programmable thermostats and other energy-saving equipment.
A different program, called the Peak Day 20/20 Program, is in place for medium and large business customers - those with an average monthly electric load of 20 kilowatts (kW) or more. These customers must sign up for the program and need an interval data recorder (IDR) to participate. For this program, customers must be able to reduce their electricity use by 20 percent each time a "peak day" is declared from May through September - as many as 10 days during that time. The IDR is used instead of a typical meter to track customer energy consumption. SDG&E will install the IDR free of charge, but cannot guarantee that all meters will be in place in time for customers to take part for the entire summer season.
For a list of energy-saving tips for home and office, including an on-line energy audit, customers can log on to www.sdge.com and click on "20/20 Program."
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters. The company's service territory encompasses 4,100 square miles in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.