With today marking the official start of summer, many of us have barbecues, picnics and pool parties on our mind. For those who live inland where temperature can soar to triple digits, perhaps you also have concerns about the power grid being able to meet everyone’s needs during heat spells, and what you can do to keep utility costs down.
We have an extensive summer readiness program in place at SDG&E. Below are some tips to help you get ready for the heat and save money.
Flex Your Power to Keep the Power On
What We are Doing: Every year, our highly-trained grid operators prepare for the summer months by making operational improvements to ensure reliable power. This year is no different. We have secured enough power to meet the needs of our customers. While we don’t anticipate any local reliability issues, California’s power grid is interconnected, which means something that happens in the north can ultimately affect us in the south.
What You can Do: On days when California puts out a Flex Alert or when SDG&E calls on customers to conserve, please reduce your energy use. If you are enrolled in our demand response programs, you can earn credits and incentives for reducing energy consumption. Learn more here.
Ways to Save on Your Energy Bill
Saving with Time-of-Use: If you are not already enrolled in a time-of-use energy plan, consider signing up for a risk-free trial. Whereas traditional energy plans allow customers to save money only by reducing their overall energy consumption, time-of-use plans provide customers with one more way to save in addition to reducing use: shifting electricity use to lower cost hours of the day, before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m.
Check out these tips on how to save with Time-of-Use plans.
Saving with a Smart Thermostat: Air conditioning is typically one of the largest energy expenses in the summer, and one of the easiest ways to save on your energy bill is to improve your energy management with a smart thermostat.
Through midnight today, June 21, you can get nearly 50% off on an ecobee4 smart thermostat, which retails for $249. SDG&E is offering a $75 instant rebate, and ecobee is offering an additional $40 off. Take advantage of the deal here.