Who is Eligible?

In order to be eligible for WatterSaver, you must be a PG&E or community choice aggregator (CCA) customer in PG&E service territory and on a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate*.  If you are not currently on a TOU rate you will be automatically enrolled in TOU-C when you sign up for WatterSaver. CCA customers may also participate in WatterSaver as long as they receive a bill from PG&E. Below is a sample list of eligible TOU rates:

• E-TOU-A, E-TOU-B, E-TOU-C, E-TOU-D

• EV2-A

• EV-A, EV-B

• E6 (retired)

• EM-TOU

• E-ELEC (Electric Home Rate Plan).

Your current rate schedule can be found on your PG&E bill. See the example below:

The cost of energy changes throughout the day. From 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., demand for energy is at its peak and is more expensive. WatterSaver minimizes energy consumption around the 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. peak period and adjusts the water heater’s setpoint so that the water heater is less likely to run during this time. WatterSaver prioritizes your comfort and will allow your water heater to turn on during this peak period if there is risk of running out of hot water. Prior to the 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. peak period, your water heater setpoint will be increased to a higher temperature to ensure there is a large amount of hot water available to draw from without turning on the water heater during peak times**.

By making this slight shift in your energy use, you can save money on your water heating and will also help even out the demand on our power grid, which helps avoid power outages.  It also means we can take advantage of energy produced from renewable sources like solar and wind, which is cleaner and less expensive.

* Customers participating in electrification pilots in one of five communities in the San Joaquin Valley: Alpaugh Census Designated Place (CDP), Fairmead CDP, Lanare CDP, La Vina CDP and Le Grand CDP, collectivity identified as San Joaquin Valley Disadvantaged Communities (SJV DAC), for pilots approved as part of the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC’s) Rulemaking 15-03-010, also known as the SJV DAC Proceeding, are exempt from Time-of-Use rate participation requirements. If you’re not sure if you are a part of these programs you can email [email protected] to help.

** If you do not have a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) your water heater setpoint will never be increased as a safety measure against scalding.