PG&E Honored For Consumer Energy-Saving Programs By Sears Holdings

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers step into a Sears store near them, a lesson in energy efficiency awaits. They can easily spot energy-saving products that qualify for PG&E rebates or pick up conservation tips at a special kiosk.

PG&E earned recognition during the Sears Holdings (SHC) 2012 Partners in Transformation summit for working with the retailer to promote products and share information to help customers better manage their energy use. PG&E is the only utility company to receive an SHC Partners in Transformation award this year.

Together the two companies have produced innovative programs and customer messaging. Among the results over the past year, PG&E customers have received:

• Approximately $600,000 in PG&E instant rebates through purchases of approved appliances at Sears stores and online outlets.
• More than $2.5 million in mail-in rebates for purchases of other energy-efficient products at Sears.

PG&E has also placed kiosks in 14 Sears stores in Northern and Central California, providing information to shoppers on products, SmartMetersTM, and other ways to understand and control their energy consumption.

"PG&E is pleased to be honored by Sears Holdings and to be creating such valuable programs together for customers of both companies," said Steven E. Malnight, PG&E's vice president of Customer Energy Solutions. "The products and behaviors we're promoting help our customers save money on their energy bills. They also help keep electricity demand in check, which has real environmental benefits for everyone."

Sears was the first to work with PG&E, starting in 2009, when the utility began expanding collaborations with retailers. PG&E now has similar agreements with other retailers, as well as with equipment manufacturers and nonprofit and governmental organizations, to inform businesses and individuals about the benefits of purchasing energy-efficient products. The program has been recognized as a model by utilities throughout North America.

SHC's Partners in Transformation and its predecessor, Partners in Progress, have been handed out over the past 20-plus years to recognize both merchandise and expense vendors who have proven superior partners relative to their peers. Of the more than 30,000 suppliers and support companies that work with Sears, less than one half of a percent have the privilege of receiving this award.

PG&E received the award for Retail Excellence, given to the vendor who, relative to its peers, has achieved excellence in promoting, marketing and merchandising its products or services at Sears/Kmart/Lands' End or online.

"The Partners in Transformation award recognizes our top-performing suppliers as true partners in transformation. By providing the quality services, products and experiences that exceed our customers' expectations and build lifetime relationships, we can reach our company's goal of becoming the leader in integrated retail—in-store, online and in the home," said Lou D'Ambrosio, president and chief executive officer of Sears Holdings. "Through our continued collaboration, we will be able to more effectively leverage the breadth of our portfolio and the power of our brands." 

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.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company