PG&E is Helping Customers Cook Up a Savory & Sustainable Holiday Season 

OAKLAND, Calif. — As kitchens fill with hearty Thanksgiving favorites, Pacific Gas and Electric  Company (PG&E) is helping customers cook up festive and energy-efficient holiday meals with  simple no-cost actions to maximize their energy savings. 

Kitchens can consume up to 15% of your home’s energy, according to the U.S. Department of  Energy. From casseroles to cornbread stuffing and other wintry weather fare, the energy  required to cook your seasonal feast can gobble up a significant part of your holiday energy bill.  

Before you roll up your sleeves this year, PG&E wants to help customers whip up a win for their  wallet and comfort with these energy and money-saving tips: 

• Convection Connection: If your oven has a convection setting, use it! It cooks food  faster and at a lower temperature, which saves energy, money and keeps your kitchen  cooler. 

• Keep a Lid on It: Roast your turkey and side dishes with lids on pots and pans and use  glass or ceramic dishes. This reduces cooking time and saves energy and money. • Don’t Peek: Every time the oven door opens, the temperature inside is reduced by as  much as 25 degrees, forcing it to work harder and use more energy. Use the oven  window instead. 

• Call in the Crockpot: Use a crockpot, hot plate, or microwave for smaller meals instead  of the stovetop or oven to serve up energy savings. Interested in an induction cooktop?  Give one a test drive with the PG&E Induction Cooktop Loaner Program. 

• Use the Dishwasher: Skip the rinse – just scrape and go! Using your dishwasher is  more energy efficient than washing by hand. Wait until there is a full load before starting  the dishwasher and be sure to stop it before the heated dry cycle.  

• Potluck Power: Encourage your guests to bring their signature dishes, reducing the  energy load on your oven and stovetop. 

• “Watt” Else Can You Do? When the feast is over, dim the lights and switch to low energy activities like board games or sharing stories. Make memories without maxing  out your energy bill. 

To watch a video on how to save money and be a more energy-conscious cook, click here.

A Fire-Safe Holiday 

Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home cooking fires, according to the National Fire  Protection Association. The spike can often be linked to multitasking in the kitchen, and distractions that can make you lose track of what is cooking on the stove and in the oven. By  following a few simple safety precautions from the PG&E Safety Action Center, you can keep your  family fire-safe this holiday.  

Energy Efficiency DIY Tool Kit 

Did you know you can lower energy bills and save money with PG&E’s DIY tool kit? With a $200  investment in energy-efficient materials, customers can save nearly $1,000 each year. 

Energy Appliance Calculator 

Have you ever wondered how much electricity your appliances and electronics are using? Use  an Energy Appliance Calculator to help you better understand how much money you are  spending to use them. 

Income-Eligible Assistance Programs   

• California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE): Provides a discount of 20% or  more each month on gas and electricity bills.  

• Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): Offers a monthly discount of 18% on  electricity bills for households with 3+ people. 

• Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): Offers one-time  financial assistance to qualified customers with past-due bills. 

For more ways to manage your winter bills, visit: Save Energy & Money. 

About PG&E    Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a  combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and  pge.com/news