Overview

Description

The purpose of this program is to provide small, less sophisticated electric customers with access to high-quality information about the changing electricity market. This program requires PG&E to hire a web-site designer to develop a pilot site to test internet support for the needs of small customers. In addition to market information, including prices and costs, customers should be able to access their demand and consumption profiles, to help them understand better how their electric bills are (or will be) influenced by their load profiles.

Rationale

In this rapidly changing electricity market, many consumers, especially small ones, require access to dependable and straightforward information about electricity prices and costs. Missing from many press and public agency accounts of the crisis is the link between activities of the FERC, ISO, PUC, Legislature, Governor, or utility and the customer's own energy profile. This pilot program will explore how provision of this type of information to smaller consumers can be tailored to help close the information gap.

Objectives

The program objectives are:

_ Link market information with customer consumption information

_ Test costs and benefits of this approach to consumer outreach (in addition to more traditional audit programs PG&E already offers)

_ Link information contained on this site to customer solutions, including equipment and appliance manufacturers that provide high-efficiency products and services

_ Explore the nexus of utility and third party services to consumers.