EPA Recognizes PG&E With 2013 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recognized Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) with a 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for the utility's continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency. PG&E's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony taking place tomorrow in Washington, D.C.

PG&E, an ENERGY STAR partner since 1995, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. Through its partnership with ENERGY STAR in 2012, PG&E helped customers save more than $2 billion in average lifecycle energy bills and avoid the emission of nearly 840,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

"Last year, PG&E worked with more than 750 retailers and food service equipment dealers to bring our customers the most energy-efficient products on the market, and that's just one example of what we achieved through our partnership with ENERGY STAR," said Helen Burt, senior vice president and chief customer officer of PG&E. "Through the ENERGY STAR partnership, PG&E helped our customers save energy and protect the environment on a larger scale than ever before, and we look forward to continuing that work this year."

Across the United States, top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through their participation in ENERGY STAR. Over the last 20 years, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

"EPA is recognizing PG&E for earning EPA's highest ENERGY STAR award – the 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award," said Bob Perciasepe, acting administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "PG&E leads the field with its commitment to energy efficiency and demonstrates how all Americans can save energy, save money, and create a healthier environment."

The 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. Award winners are selected from the nearly 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/ and www.pgecurrents.com.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future generations. Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, and buildings. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)