Free Resources | Energy | Currents Newsletter | Sep/Oct 2004

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Reopens Popular Energy Efficiency Residential Rebate Program

Thousands of Customers who Purchased Qualifying Products After Closure Eligible for Rebates

Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced it has reopened its residential rebate program, which offers 30 different types of energy efficient products for the home — including air conditioners, dishwasher, clothes washers, pool pumps and high performance dual paned windows. Rebate amounts for measures and products are the same amount as the beginning of the year — ranging from $20 to $700.

The program will officially re-open on September 1 with $6.5 million in rebates for qualifying products through December 31, 2004 or until funds are depleted. Customers who had previously sent completed applications for qualifying products and received a program closure letter need not reapply, and will automatically be sent their rebate check. Customers who sent incomplete applications will receive a letter requesting additional information to complete the rebate process. Customers who purchased and installed qualifying products from January 1, 2004 — December 31, 2004 are eligible to apply. PG&E is sending notifications to nearly 60,000 contractors, manufacturers and retailers notifying them of the program’s re-opening.

For a complete listing of residential rebate products go to http://www.pge.com/.

In early July the utility was forced to close its residential rebate program for nearly all measures (with exception of lighting products and refrigerator/freezer recycling) due to an overwhelming response, which depleted the funds for the program. PG&E received more than 100,000 rebate applications (December 2003–July 2004) totaling more than $10 million. The 2004 budget approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was for $10.25 million in rebate incentives.

PG&E began announcing the program closure in April to customers, manufacturers, retailers and contractors through several communication channels. The utility also made a formal request to the CPUC for the ability to shift unspent funds allocated to other programs. On August 19th, the CPUC authorized PG&E to designate any unspent Public Purpose Programs funds to the Residential Rebate program.

Funding for rebate programs comes from the Public Purpose Programs charge included in monthly utility bills. The CPUC designates funding for various programs, including energy efficiency programs. Purchasing qualifying energy efficiency products helps save money for customers and reduces peak energy usage during high demand days — both in the summer and winter.

Since 1990, PG&E customers have helped reduce energy usage by 1,500 megawatt — the amount of electricity to power more than one million homes — through energy efficiency and demand response programs such as these.

For information on energy efficiency programs and conservation tips, please visit http://www.pge.com/foryourhome/ or contact PG&E’s Smarter Energy Line at 1-800-933-9555.

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