Pacific Gas and Electric Company received approval from the
California Public Utilities Commission Thursday to provide
financial relief to every single electric customer with a one-time
credit based on their electricity bills for the period that
includes the July heat storm.
San Francisco – Pacific Gas and Electric Company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday to provide financial relief to every single electric customer with a one-time credit based on their electricity bills for the period that includes the July heat storm.
The Heat Storm Bill Credit will be 15 percent for all residential customers and 10 percent for all other customers, including agricultural, business, commercial and governmental entities. An additional $10 million will be provided to the Salvation Army, which administers Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) program, to assist low income customers with their energy bills.
“This initiative is about finding creative solutions to help those who are coping with the financial impacts of the heat storm,” said Helen Burt, senior vice president and chief customer officer.
Electric customers will receive the credit on their October bill based on the bill received for the summer heat storm which blanketed California from July 16 to 27. For some customers, the heat storm period may span two billing cycles, in which case the company will look at both bills and provide a credit based on the larger bill.
The Heat Storm Bill Credit follows the unprecedented July heat wave experienced by the entire west coast which caused a spike in electricity consumption as customers were struggling to stay comfortable in the blazing temperatures. Comparing July to June, PG&E residential customers’ electricity usage increased by an average of 28 percent per customer as a result of the higher temperatures. The average residential bills increased an average of 44 percent, from about $79 to $114. Regions such as the Central Valley, where typical summer residential use is higher than average, saw even higher increases.
