PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ENERGY DIVISION RESOLUTION G-3392
October 5, 2006
Resolution G-3392. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) requests expedited approval of its 10/20 Plus Winter Gas Savings Program (WGSP) for residential and commercial natural gas customers.
The 10/20 Plus WGSP is approved, as modified by an agreement with the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA).
By Advice Letter (AL) 2753-G, filed on August 9, 2006.
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SUMMARY
PG&E's proposal to offer its residential and commercial customers a gas bill rebate for reducing their natural gas usage during January and February 2007 is approved, as modified by an agreement with DRA. Major elements of this resolution are summarized below.
1. PG&E's 10/20 Plus WGSP provides residential and commercial gas customers with a gas bill rebate (up to a 20 percent maximum) if they reduce their natural gas consumption during January and February of 2007 as compared to a three year average computed over the same months. The rebate is applied to the aggregate of a qualifying customer's January and February 2007 gas bills.
2. The proposed program is similar to one adopted by the Commission for last winter. Differences include expanding eligibility to all commercial customers and adjustments to account for the effects of weather on natural gas consumption.
3. Anticipated rebates issued under the program are $61 million and the utility requests authorization to spend $5 million for marketing and implementation costs.
4. An agreement was reached between PG&E and DRA to recover program rebates and costs from residential customers from April through October 2007. TURN also concurred with the agreement. Cost recovery from commercial customers would be over a 12 month period beginning January 2007, as initially proposed by PG&E. The agreement is approved.
5. PG&E seeks expedited approval of its request so that it may begin marketing and implementing the program with sufficient lead time and prior to the winter.
6. The Western Manufactured Housing Community Association's (WMA) concerns in their protest of AL 2753-G have been satisfied by PG&E's reply. PG&E is ordered to inform its master-metered customers about how gas bill rebates are to be distributed to sub-metered tenants.
7. This resolution approves PG&E 10/20 Plus WGSP, as modified by the agreement with DRA, because it should promote increased natural gas conservation and provide qualifying residential and commercial customers with an opportunity to reduce their 2006-07 winter natural gas expenses.
