CONTACT:	Carol E. Robinson		May 21, 2001	CPUC: XXX
	415-703-1072	cer@cpuc.ca.gov

KEY TIPS ON HOW TO READ YOUR

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC BILL

Residential electric and gas customers may read their bill, look at the amount they owe and little else before writing a check and mailing the payment.

If your utility bill has you confused, the California Public Utilities Commission offers this brief primer on how to read your bill so you know how much energy you have used each billing period, usually a month.

Your electric bill is based on how much electricity you use during the billing period. Your usage for the month is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and is determined by a reading of your electric meter. The utility records the current reading and compares it with the last month's reading. The difference between the two readings is your total usage for the month and is recorded as a total number of kilowatt-hours.

Things to look for on your electric bill include the following:

_ The account number. When you call your utility, giving your account number will help the utility representative serve you more quickly.

_ The rate schedule identifies the type of utility service you receive and the plan used to bill you.

_ Service dates mark the beginning and the end of the billing period.

_ "Baseline quantity" is an allocation of electricity that is billed at a lower rate for residential customers. The baseline amount is determined by the CPUC based on the number of days in the billing period, season, climatic region, and whether your primary heating source is gas or electricity. All electricity usage above baseline is charged at a higher rate. A SCE residential bill illustrates the baseline on the top portion in the summary. On a PG&E residential bill, page 3 shows the baseline amount under electric account detail. Both show the baseline amount customers use, which is billed at the lowest rate, plus the amount in the next highest tier charged a higher rate, and so on.

_ State lawmakers created a legislated 10 percent rate reduction as part of the state's electric restructuring program. This rate reduction will remain in effect through as late as March 31, 2002, unless extended by the Legislature.

_ Public Purpose Programs are state-mandated programs such as the low-income discount and energy efficiency programs.

_ Transmission charges are associated with transporting electricity over long distances, from generating facilities to distribution substations in your neighborhood.

_ Distribution charges cover the costs of providing local service. This includes delivering power to your home or business, wires, poles, repair crews and emergency and other customer services.

_ Energy charges calculate the actual cost of the electricity you use by multiplying the applicable rate by the number of kilowatt-hours consumed.

_ The Usage Comparison section shows your usage in the current billing period this year vs. the same billing period last year in both total kWh and kWh per day. This information can help you gauge your conservation efforts. Under the California 20/20 Rebate Program, customers who reduce their electricity use this summer will receive a 20 percent discount on their bills.

_ Rotating Outage Block, expressed as a number, is your place in the utility's planned outage schedule. Outage announcements will specify which outage block was or will be affected and may help you plan for scheduled outages in your area.

Your electric bill is calculated by multiplying the number of kWh you use by the rate per kWh. The calculation is made according to the "tiers" of usage. For example, the charge for your baseline usage--the lowest rate-is one tier. Usage between baseline and 130 percent of baseline is the second tier. For usage between 130 and 200 percent of your baseline, the third tier, a new and higher rate applies. From 200 percent to 300 percent of baseline is the fourth tier, and the fifth tier denotes usage above 300 percent of baseline, where the highest rate applies. These rates apply only to customers of PG&E and Edison, not to SDG&E customers.

It is important to understand that the new rate increases for PG&E and Edison do not apply to residential customers staying within 130 percent of their baseline allowance for electricity. Customers can avoid increased charges by conserving to that level.

For more information, contact your utility or these Web sites: www.pge.com; www.sce.com; and www.sdg&e.com.

The Usage Comparison Section will appear like this:

Usage Comparison	Days	Therms Billed	Therms per Day	Days	KWh Billed	KWh per Day
This year	30	87	2.9	30	550	18.3
Last year	30	58	1.9	30	763	25.4

The Electric Account Detail section will contain a box like this, showing your usage breakdown relative to your baseline quantity:

	Total Usage	Usage in Tier	Rates	Charge in Each Tier
Monthly Baseline Allowance	414
100% of baseline	414	414	0.12589	$52
130% of baseline	538	124	0.14321	$18
200% of baseline	828	290	0.19333	$56
300 % of baseline	1,242	414	0.23630	$98
Over 300% of Baseline	1,500	258	0.25826	$67

Total Usage: 1,500 kWh Total Charge: $290

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