SAN DIEGO, Nov. 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the onset of colder weather, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) officials say now is the time to prepare homes for an energy-efficient heating season.
"As Mother Nature turns down the temperature, we tend to turn up the thermostat," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer services for SDG&E. "With home-energy bills for most residential customers projected to be 20 percent to 30 percent higher than last winter due to increased natural gas costs nationwide, improving a home's energy efficiency will help to keep energy bills as low as possible."
SDG&E offers these tips for a warm, safe and energy-efficient winter:
-- Take SDG&E's online Home Energy-Efficiency Survey for a free
evaluation of home energy usage.
-- Perform any needed maintenance on home heating systems.
-- When using the home furnace, lower the thermostat 3 to 5 degrees
(health permitting) and turn it off when not at home. This can
help save up to 20 percent on heating costs.
-- Check the furnace filter monthly and clean or replace it, per
manufacturer's recommendations, to save up to 2 percent on
heating costs.
-- When purchasing a new furnace, choose an ENERGY STAR(r) model
with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90
percent and take advantage of utility rebates.
-- Increase the home's efficiency by installing attic and wall
insulation and save up to 25 percent on heating costs. Be sure
to take advantage of utility rebates on these items.
-- Have air ducts tested for leaks and seal any leaks to save up to
20 percent on heating costs.
-- Caulk and weatherstrip drafty doors and windows to save up to 5
percent on heating costs.
-- And, use an extra blanket and turn down the furnace thermostat at
night as the weather turns cooler.
SDG&E offers rebates on qualified high-efficiency natural gas furnaces, water heaters, attic and wall insulation and other home-improvement items. Energy-efficiency program information and applications are available at www.sdge.com.
For eligible customers with limited income, SDG&E offers a 20-percent discount on monthly energy bills through the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program and free energy-saving home improvements, including the repair or replacement of qualifying home furnaces, through the Energy Team Program. Income guidelines have been revised for these programs to allow more customers to be eligible. One-time winter bill assistance also is available for eligible customers through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program.
For more information on conservation and simple home improvement tips as well as energy-efficiency rebates and applications, customers should visit SDG&E's Web site at www.sdge.com, or call SDG&E at 1 (800) 411-SDGE. Customers are asked to have their account number handy for faster service.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.