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PG&E Asks Customers to Conserve Energy This Week As Temperatures Heat Up Across California

Posted on: Tuesday, 8 July 2008, 09:01 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Triple digit temperatures are forecast for many parts of California this week, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company is asking customers to voluntarily conserve energy to assist California's electric grid manager, the California Independent System Operator (California ISO), in its efforts to maintain adequate power reserves for the state.

The California ISO does not anticipate any power supply shortages this week, but peak demand could approach the record peak demand of 50,270 megawatts, which was set on July 24, 2006. Therefore, the California ISO has declared "Flex Alert Days" from today through Thursday of this week, urging Californians to "Flex Your Power NOW!" and conserve energy during peak demand hours of 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Energy conservation plays a key role in helping the California ISO balance the demand for energy with available supply. PG&E expects to have sufficient electric supplies with adequate reserves for its customers in northern and central California, but customers can help ensure that supplies remain adequate by taking the following steps:

Powerful Habits:

-- Set air conditioning thermostat at 78 degrees or higher (health permitting) and keep doors and windows closed when operating air conditioning systems

-- Cool with fans -- Draw the drapes -- Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances -- Use big appliances early in the day or later at night

PG&E will voluntarily curtail usage at its company facilities throughout northern and central California during this conservation effort. It is also calling on its Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) and Business Energy Coalition (BEC) customers to curtail energy use.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, 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/.

For More Information on Energy Saving Tips Visit Our Website at

http://www.pge.com/foryourhome or http://www.pge.com/foryourbusiness

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

CONTACT: PG&E News Department, +1-415-973-5930

Web site: http://www.pge.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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