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 With the peak of wildfire season soon bearing down on California, San Diego Gas & Electric this weekend will host the first of four wildfire safety fairs, giving people who live in backcountry locales emergency backpack kits and up-to-date information in case of evacuations and power shutoffs.
Local businesses may be worried about their energy bill as summer arrives and as they try to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. Businesses can take advantage of SDG&E programs to help stretch bill payments over a longer time, find the best pricing plan and take online energy webinars.
Many businesses, especially small businesses, are facing new challenges due to COVID-19 and still have ongoing expenses during the pandemic. SDG&E wants to help during these difficult times and offers these solutions and resources.
 SDG&E is hosting another business support webinar this week that may be of interest to you and your members. We hope you will be able to join us on Thursday, June 11, 1:00 – 2:00pm PST for the fifth part of our webinar series featuring: Technology: The Power of Social Media.
Details are in the flyer below and attached. If you are interested in attending, please register here as space is limited.  We understand that it can be difficult to reduce your business’ monthly energy bill, but did you know incorporating smart thermostats in your business can help save both energy and money? Smart thermostats allow businesses to have greater control over energy use because temperatures can be controlled remotely. Businesses can run energy-efficient schedules and optimize their system performance, leading to a more predictable monthly bill.
 In a typical office building – lighting, heating and cooling represent nearly 70% of total energy use making those systems the best targets for energy savings. During these uncertain times, every dollar counts. Here are some ways your business can cut its energy use and bills.
 As we adjust to a new way of life due to the coronavirus pandemic and many people are spending more time at home, SDG&E understands customer concerns about the impact to their energy bills.
 As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect people worldwide, SDG&E wants to make sure that customers know how to protect themselves against scammers. It’s not uncommon for scams to increase during a crisis and, while they may occur year-round, the risk is much higher right now. If you receive suspicious emails, texts or calls about Federal stimulus checks, your SDG&E bill or personal information, be cautious. It may be a scam. If you’d like to learn how to spot scams and how to protect yourself, visit SDG&E's scam webpage.
 SDG&E has donated $1 million in shareholder funds to help launch the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund to support local nonprofit groups that help the needy with food, rent and utility bill assistance. At SDG&E’s recommendation, the Community Response Fund has provided funding to the following efforts:
 SDG&E recognizes the tremendous economic and human impact the coronavirus has had on our business community and we want all customers to know that SDG&E is here to help them through this crisis and support their energy needs. In recent weeks, they’ve taken several actions to support our region’s businesses.
 If you like saving money, then check out our Tool Lending Library. Located at SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center, the library has hundreds of tools and “how to” books that are free to borrow. Whether you’re working on a task at home or a professional project, we might have the tool you need to get the job done. Search the library and make reservations online, then stop by to pick them up. Check out the current tool inventory or call 1-800-613-8970.
 Are you interested in getting a customized roadmap for energy-saving improvements? SDG&E’s Business Energy Solutions (BES) Program offers small to mid-size business customers an onsite, no-cost energy audit with a report on potential savings. The report shows you areas where your business can save energy, along with recommendations on energy efficiency upgrades. BES contractors install products at no cost; and products are offered at a discount or at no-cost. You'll work with one contractor from start to finish. For more information, call 1.800.644.6133 or email.
 According to the EPA's ENERGY STAR program, U.S. small businesses together spend a whopping $60 billion on energy each year. Additionally, a survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that energy costs are a top-three business expense for more than one-third of the nation's small businesses.
 In California, most greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions (45 percent) are from the transportation sector. The next largest source, approximately 24 percent, comes from buildings that rely on the combustion of natural gas to generate heat. So, to cut GHGs and push towards a zero-emissions future, adopting heat pumps for space and water heating could be a significant step.
Heat pumps don’t rely on combustion to work. Instead, they use electricity and refrigerants to move heat from one area to another; making them more efficient and safer than their gas counterparts. Today’s heat pumps are typically over 100 percent efficient.  A decade ago, San Diego Gas & Electric® hired its first meteorologist and started building its own weather station network, to closely track how temperature, humidity and winds affect the power grid and plan accordingly to reduce wildfire risk. Today, SDG&E has 191 weather stations and has continued to expand and upgrade its weather network. In the past year, 14 stations have been added in areas of concern. The weather network’s capabilities have been upgraded which allows more frequent data download and weather observations every 30 seconds, instead of every ten minutes.
 Energy is typically a big expense for small businesses, but small businesses also have significant energy savings potential. Here are some ways you can better manage your energy use.
 Buildings don’t use energy – people do. Your employees affect a building’s energy performance. Many people already save energy at home. Show them the connections between those good behaviors and what they can do at work. It’s the little things that, when added together, can make a big difference.
 SDG&E’s winter electricity prices are in effect from November 1 – May 31 each year. What does this mean for you and your business? Well, this means you still have an opportunity to maximize savings on your energy bill by understanding your business’s pricing plan and when energy is the least expensive.
 With office parties to coordinate and gifts to send, things can get hectic for businesses during the holidays, as well as expensive. One expense a business can cut down on and save energy on is electricity. When it comes to saving energy, it’s often the simplest but most overlooked things that can have the most impact. Do your part this holiday season to save energy and keep your customers, business and employees safe. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
 SDG&E’s winter electricity prices are in effect from November 1 – May 31 each year. What does this mean for you and your business? Well, this means you still have an opportunity to maximize savings on your energy bill by understanding your business’s pricing plan and when energy is the least expensive.
 As we transition into cooler weather, you’ll want to keep your employees warm. Did you know that by implementing a few tips your business can save on its energy use? From regulating your temperature control to involving employees in your energy-saving objectives, there are collaborative ways to lower your energy bills this winter.
 An estimated 25 percent of businesses don’t open again after a major disaster, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. Protect your business by identifying the risks relevant to your location, both natural and man-made. Then, keep your plan of action updated.
 Despite the relatively mild temperatures this summer and early fall, we have recently experienced hotter-than-normal days which can lead to higher bills and calls for energy conservation.
 Proper planning and preparation in advance can teach employees how to respond, help protect operations and save lives should an emergency occur. Watch this video on emergency preparedness for your business. And, here are five ways to stay safe in your workplace.
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