PG&E Lauds U.S. Senators Shaheen And Portman For Leadership In Introducing Important Energy Efficiency Legislation

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today expressed appreciation to U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) for their leadership in introducing the "Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013" and their recognition of the important role energy efficiency plays in the American economy (letter attached). The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee favorably reported the legislation today, with broad support from Senators serving on the Committee. PG&E Vice President of Federal Affairs Melissa Lavinson said:

"We appreciate the leadership of Senator Portman and Senator Shaheen in introducing the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, which will save businesses and consumers money, make America more energy independent, and reduce emissions. We also applaud Senators Wyden and Murkowski for their consistent efforts to move this legislation through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and to the full Senate."

"As PG&E continues our efforts to pursue turn-key energy efficiency projects for our customers, be they residential or commercial, we appreciate how important the provisions in this legislation are to helping improve the energy efficiency of our economy, increase productivity, create savings for consumers and help the environment."

For more than 30 years, PG&E has built a track record of working with customers to deliver cost and energy savings through a diverse array of energy efficiency programs, services and campaigns. A key factor in this shared success is a state regulatory structure known as decoupling that creates and aligns incentives for utilities to drive energy efficiency. As a result, PG&E and its customers have saved an estimated $20 billion, avoided the release of more than 180 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and helped California's per capita electricity use to remain relatively flat, while nationwide electricity use has increased by almost 50 percent.

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.

Dear Senator Shaheen and Senator Portman,

On behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), I would like to express our support for S. 761, the "Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013" and our congratulations on its passage from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today.  

PG&E is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States.  With more than 21,000 employees, the company provides natural gas and electric service to 15 million people throughout a 70,000 square-mile service area in Northern and Central California.  We applaud your focus on promoting and advancing policies to make our economy more energy-efficient, increase overall energy productivity, and help consumers and the federal government save money.  We also commend you for the bipartisan nature of your effort and the work you have done to educate both your colleagues and the general public on the benefits of energy efficiency.

As background, PG&E is an industry leader relative to the investments we have and continue to make in innovative customer energy efficiency and demand response programs.  For example, over the last 30 years, we have developed, implemented and managed energy efficiency programs that have saved our customers an estimated $20 billion.  This progress has contributed significantly to the fact that California's per capita energy use has been essentially flat since the 1970's, thereby avoiding the need to build approximately 25 large power plants.  I'm proud to share that in 2011 alone, we achieved energy savings of 270 megawatts, saving our customers more than $262 million. 

The provisions within S. 761 take a focused and thoughtful approach to seeking energy efficiency improvements in the residential, industrial and commercial settings, all of which are very important.  As you know, there are substantial savings that can be achieved through the existing federal asset footprint, and PG&E is continuing to pursue further turn-key energy efficiency projects for our federal customers through our Utility Energy Services Contract program.  The provisions in your legislation recognize the exciting potential that exists to improve the overall energy efficiency of information technology assets within federal agencies, and we hope to be a partner in this effort in the years to come.

Again, thank you for your leadership in introducing the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, and we look forward to continuing to support this legislation as it is considered by the full Senate.

Sincerely,

Melissa Lavinson
Vice President of Federal Affairs
Pacific Gas and Electric Company

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company