In late 2015, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a decision that ordered the utilities to issue a semi-annual bill credit to residential and small business customers.  The credit is from a state government program that requires power plants and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits from auctions managed by the Air Resources Board.  

Usually, these credits are distributed twice a year, in April and October. However, in early February the Commission accelerated the timeframe in which residential energy customers will receive the April Climate Credit on their bills in order to provide much needed support to customers experiencing unusually high natural gas bills this winter. The combined Climate Credit of roughly $90 to $120 will automatically show up as soon as possible on the bills on Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Gas Company. Customers of Bear Valley, Liberty, PacifiCorp, and Southwest Gas will also receive an accelerated credit.

The following shows the credits that will be issued in your next February or March bills:     

PG&E 
Electric        $38.39
Natural Gas    $52.78

SCE
Electric        $71.00

SDG&E
Electric        $60.70
Natural Gas    $43.40

Southern California Gas
Natural Gas        $56.35

Southwest Gas 
Natural Gas    $56.35

Bear Valley Electric
Electric        $33.16

Liberty 
Electric        $29.49

Pacific Power
Electric     $132.85

Edward G. Poole is a partner with Anderson Poole & Couche, a San Francisco law firm representing clients in utility and general business matters and is a long-standing member of the WMA Utility Task Force.