PG&E WATTERSAVER PARTICIPANT PROGRAM TERMS

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) WatterSaver Program (Program) is administered by the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA). Customer’s participation is subject to agreement of these Program terms and conditions (Agreement) as follows:

  1. AUTHORITY. Customer represents they received the property site (Site) owner’s permission to implement their project under the Program application (Project), in accordance with these Agreement terms.
  2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. Customer and their Site must be in PG&E’s operational territory, receive its electricity from PG&E and be on a time of use (TOU) rate schedule, unless Customer is participating in electrification pilots locations at: San Joaquin Valley: Alpaugh Census Designated Place (CDP), Fairmead CDP, Lanare CDP, La Vina CDP and Le Grand CDP, collectivity San Joaquin Valley Disadvantaged Communities (SJV DAC), approved in California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Rulemaking 15-03-010.
  3. AUTOMATIC TOU ENROLLMENT. If Customer is not enrolled in a TOU rate plan, Customer’s participation requires PG&E change the Customer’s rate schedule to TOU (Peak Pricing 4-9 p.m. Every Day) (TOU-C). Customers on PG&E’s NEM 1.0 rate plan will be “trued up” if their rate plan changes before the end of the annual billing cycle. Customer rate plan changes are effective within 14 days after their Project is approved for implementation and these changes will appear on the Customer’s bill within 1-2 billing cycles. Once Customer is switched to TOU-C, they can change their plan, provided the new rate is also a TOU rate.
  4. QUALIFYING EQUIPMENT. Customer must have a new or existing electric Water Heater that can be remotely accessed using the Water Heater’s onboard controls or a controller installed by PG&E or AEA.
  5. PROJECT PURPOSE AND SITE ACCESS. Customer agrees PG&E and/or AEA may remotely control their Water Heater through a cloud service communication platform (Platform), to optimize comfort and savings under optimal time of day rates during load shift events (Events). When mutually agreeable, Customer agrees and will coordinate to receive permission from its Site occupant(s), if any, to grant Site access to PG&E and/or AEA to install the Water Heater controller if needed, verify it is connected to the Platform, and determine if the Water Heater has or needs a mixing valve installed at the Water Heater outlet.
  6. ONLINE AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION. Occasional automatic and/or voluntary account-related alerts (Alerts) following certain changes to the Customer’s account or information shall be communicated. For example, Customer TOU rate changes, modifications to their Water Heating schedule, etc. Alerts may be turned on by default during the Project implementation. Alerts will be sent to the email address or mobile number provided in the Customer’s Project Program Application, any contact information changes, the Customer agrees to send AEA in writing. Alerts may also be sent to Customer’s mobile device that accepts text/SMS messages. Alerts will indicate and specify if the Customer is expected to provide a response.
  7. EVENT OPT OUT. If the Customer wishes to temporarily opt out of controlled Event (e.g., due to planned increased use such as multiple guests), they can opt out by either 1) submitting an opt out request to the WatterSaver Program or 2) adjust the Water Heater set-point during the Event.
  8. INCENTIVE FUNDING. This Program is funded by California utility ratepayers which funds are available on a first come first basis, until depleted or the Program ends, whichever occurs first.
  9. CALCULATION OF THE PROJECT INCENTIVE. Upon Project approval, a one-time $50 digital redemption code incentive will be issued to the customer. The Project is active when their participation is maintained for a consecutive 3-month period. Customer will earn $5 per month which will be issued as an accumulated incentive (Incentive) payable as a gift card code after the quarter ends, subject to the Project being active. Incentives are issued per quarter and will continue until the Program expires, funding is exhausted, or Program is terminated. The Project is not considered active if the Customer opts out of Events more than five days, or their Platform connectivity is compromised more than 14 days within a month. Projects not active for more than three consecutive months will be terminated and Incentives not claimed within 30 days, forfeited.
  10. PROJECT TERM. This Agreement is effective upon the approval of the Project and shall continue until December 31, 2025, unless sooner terminated.
  11. Program participation is voluntary. Customer or PG&E can terminate this Agreement at any time by Customer submitting a Program withdrawal email request to [email protected] or PG&E providing written notification. Upon termination, Customer’s Water Heater will no longer be remotely controlled. A final Incentive will be paid provided a 3-month participation cycle was completed, otherwise the Incentive is forfeited. Customer will receive instructions on how to return the installed Water Heater controller to PG&E and will comply within 30 days.
  12. PROJECT SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. Customer acknowledges there may be inherent dangers associated with their Project implementation. Customer’s Water Heater may be heated to achieve warmer temperatures during the day when electricity rates are less expensive. The installation of a mixing valve may be needed to avoid unreasonably hot and unsafe temperatures. Customer is solely responsible for their own safety and that of anyone else using their Water Heater.
  13. OWNERSHIP OF PROJECT INFORMATION AND DATA. The Project energy usage data and information resulting from their participation shall be owned by PG&E, including but not limited to all data, reports, summaries, and other such written, recorded, photographic, visual materials.
  14. CUSTOMER’S AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE DATA AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION. Customer consents to provide or make available their personal information, energy usage data, billing/rate/account information to PG&E, AEA, and to the implementers(s) of the CPUC Self-Generation Incentive Program Heat Pump Water Heater (SGIP HPWH) and/or the Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating (TECH) Program for the purposes of determining eligibility to participate in a PG&E electric water heater load-shifting program such as WatterSaver, in the SGIP HPWH Program, or in the TECH Program. This data may be used to administer the Project. The SGIP HPWH and TECH programs provide incentives to support the adoption and installation of HPWHs capable of shifting electricity use from peak to off-peak periods.
  15. CPUC AUTHORITY AND DISCLOSURE. The Program terms can be modified anytime by the CPUC. All information and documentation related to the Project will be made available per CPUC request.
  16. SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS. All Project equipment installation and work performed must comply with all federal, state laws, safety requirements and applicable manufacturer instructions.
  17. NO WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER. PG&E MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO QUALITY, SAFETY PERFORMANCE, OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY, RELIABILITY OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE PROJECT OR RELATED INSTALLED EQUIPMENT AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSES.
  18. NO OBLIGATION. California consumers are not obligated to purchase any full-fee service or other service not funded by this Program to implement this Project.
  19. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Except for the Incentive, PG&E shall have no liability for any Customer costs arising from the Project implementation including the installation, usage, or removal of the Water Heater controller or mixing value. No party shall be liable for incidental, lost profits, or consequential damages.
  20. ADVERTISING AND USE OF PG&E’S NAME. Customer agrees not to use AEA’s and PG&E’s name in any published materials absent the written approval of such respective party.
  21. ASSIGNMENT. No part of this Agreement may be assigned by Customer without PG&E’s written consent.
  22. NO DOUBLE DIPPING. Customer will not seek or receive any additional incentives or rebates during their participation in Program related to load shifting of the Water Heater from other CA ratepayer programs.
  23. TAX LIABILITY. Incentives may be taxable income to the Customer, even if the Incentive is assigned to someone else. Customer is solely liable for any tax liability and needs to consult with their tax advisor.
  24. TOXIC MATERIALS. PG&E and AEA shall have no responsibility for the discovery, presence, handling, removal, or exposure to hazardous materials of any kind, including related to the Project implementation.
  25. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of San Francisco, California.

PRIVACY. PG&E’s privacy policy can be found at https://www.pge.com/privacy, or a copy of the policy can be requested and mailed to you by calling 1.800.743.5000.

Last updated 9/30/2024