Here is why your October PG&E bill may be cheaper

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – People have reported waking up to an email or notification about funds headed to their October PG&E bill.

Governor Gavin Newsom is sending Californians help towards their utility bills. One million small business owners and 11.5 million customers will receive an average of $71 dollars off their October bill.

“This is called the California Climate Credit. And so, it’s administered by PG&E, along with the other utilities in California. There is a cap-and-trade program that the state administers. And so PG&E, you know, works to make sure that our customers receive this climate credit,” PG&E Spokesperson Jeff Smith said.

More than 5 million PG&E customers woke up to a notification stating $55.17 would be taken off their October energy bills.

“We see climate credits a couple of times a year, every six months, usually once a year for electric, but once a year for gas, sometimes there will be additional ones,” Smith said.

Although groups like ‘Stop PG&E Now’ have been vocal about their bills being upwards of thousands of dollars more expensive than last year, Smith says this relief is still going to lessen the burden of the next electric bill.

“As we continue to see temperatures well over 100 degrees this week and in the 90s next week, even though it’s fall, maybe continue with some of your summer practices in terms of controlling your thermostat,” Smith said.

Customers can expect a higher energy bill in October to begin with, as record-breaking heat is expected in the first week of October.

“It’s certainly a higher bill than maybe you saw last fall during October because we’re actually looking at 20 to 30 degrees higher than it was at this time of year last year,” Smith said.

By the end of the year, Californians will have received an average of $217 in climate credits.

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