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On hot summer days, energy demand increases because thousands of customers are using their air conditioning units. PG&E may remotely activate SmartAC devices on those days in order to help maintain adequate power supplies and avoid power interruptions.

If you're a SmartRate™ participant, on SmartRate™ event days, your SmartAC™ device(s) are activated under the SmartRate™ program guidelines. SmartAC is free and automated. It can also help make event days more successful by helping to prevent power interruptions.

Event season: SmartAC™ events occur between May 1 and October 31.

Event length: SmartAC events Days can be as short as an hour or two and no more than six hours in a day.

Participants must have standard central air conditioners and/or heat pumps.

SmartAC technology and activation

SmartAC™ technology will be installed free of charge by a certified technician and maintained at no cost to the customer as long as you are a participant in the SmartAC program.

The SmartAC authorized contractor is Franklin Energy. A Franklin Energy technician may contact you:

To help you complete your enrollment

• To get your permission to activate the SmartAC device
• To install the SmartAC device, which may involve replacement with updated technology
• To help solve a tech issue you may have contacted the program about
• To visit your home and carry out the free AC check-up
• To leave a Welcome Kit door-hanger with your AC checkup results and program details

SmartAC™ switch technology will be installed on or near the outside compressor component of participant's air conditioning (AC) unit. Participants must have standard central air conditioners and/or heat pumps.

PG&E may remotely activate SmartAC™ device(s) in anticipation of a state or local energy emergency to help maintain adequate power supplies and avoid widespread power interruptions.

During a SmartAC™ event (or SmartDay™ event for SmartRate™ participants), your device will be remotely activated and your air conditioner will run slightly less than it normally would.

Residential participants with SmartAC™ switch technology may experience no more than 50 percent reduction in the air conditioner's average run time.

During a SmartAC™ event, if your thermostat calls for the air conditioner to make cool air, your AC will ignore that signal for approximately 15 out of 30 minutes. At all other times, the AC will respond normally, and make cool air.

Opt out policy

With the exception of extreme energy emergencies, where rotating outages may occur, participants may call a SmartAC™ representative at 1-866-908-4916 and opt-out of an event for the day, without penalty. The AC will be returned to its previous operational setting.

 LIHEAP is a federally funded program aimed to assist low-income households that pay a high portion of their income to meet their energy needs. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.

There are several portions of the program that help accomplish this goal, such as:

• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides one-time financial assistance to help balance an eligible household's utility bill.
• The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) provides assistance to low-income households that are in a crisis situation. Such an example would be a household receiving a 24-48 hour disconnect notice or service termination by their utility company. Another example would be a household facing an energy-related crisis that could be deemed potentially life-threatening in the household, such as a combustible appliance.
• LIHEAP Weatherization provides free energy efficiency upgrades to low-income households to lower their monthly utility bills while also improving the health and safety of the household's occupants.  
• Education on basic energy efficiency practices and instruction on the proper use and maintenance of installed weatherization measures.
• Energy budget counseling. 

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) has established a residential Electric Vehicle (EV) charging incentive program to offset Level 2 (240v) EV charger hardware costs. This program will be available to residents within the South Coast AQMD’s four-county jurisdiction.

The program will provide an incentive to buy-down the cost of residential chargers, which typically range from $400-$800. The program is administered on a first-come, first-served basis and provides up to a $250 rebate or the cost paid for the charger, whichever is lower.  Low-income residents can qualify for a total rebate of $500 or the cost paid for the charger, whichever is lower

The program offers deep discounts and, for low income qualified, may be free to some. See the FAQ below more details. In the process of reducing emissions from wood burning devices, South Coast AQMD is offering an incentive for residents, renters (with landlord approval), or landlords of a rental property in the areas surrounding cities of Riverside and San Bernardino or the community of Boyle Heights to replace their wood burning device. If you are a resident of one of these areas you may be eligible to receive funds for an installation of a cleaner burning alternative.

The Vanpool Voucher Incentive Program (VVIP) provides subsidies to Valley residents to participate in vanpools in lieu of using single occupant vehicle commutes. The purpose of the VVIP is to encourage commuter rideshare practices among frequent long distance (greater than 20 miles) riders in the San Joaquin Valley. For more information about the program, please review the program guidelines and application.

Attention San Joaquin Valley residents! The Valley Air District provides several great options to significantly reduce or even eliminate the pollution that comes from using your car.

Replace your old wood- or pellet-burning device with a new, cleaner option! The Burn Cleaner Program helps reduce particulate matter that comes from older wood-burning devices that contribute significantly to air pollution in the Valley during the Fall and Winter months. The replacement of existing gas and electric heating devices are not eligible under the program.

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is implementing the Woodsmoke Reduction Program throughout San Luis Obispo County.  The Woodsmoke Reduction Program is part of a statewide program supported by the “California Climate Investments” (CCI) program that provides grants, as shown in the table below, to qualified applicants who replace existing wood burning stoves or fireplaces that are used as a primary source of heat in their home.  Applicants can replace their old device with a natural gas, propane heating device, or a U.S. EPA certified wood stove or wood stove insert. Questions about our program and to see if you qualify, email us at woodsmoke@slocleanair.org.

There are an estimated 320,000 fireplaces and wood stoves in Sacramento County homes. Wood smoke created from the use of wood and pellets in these devices is a significant source of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, toxic air contaminants and odors, especially during the winter. These pollutants are linked to serious health impacts. 

The Sac Metro Air District is committed to reducing pollution coming from wood burning fireplaces and wood stoves. It has an incentive program that helps people change out their existing wood burning units to cleaner units, and an enforcement program to stimulate compliance with rules related to wintertime burning activities.

Eligible applicants can receive a rebate for $500 or $600, and if income eligible up to $2500, to offset the cost of replacing an old, non-EPA certified wood stove or fireplace insert with a cleaner-burning stove or insert. Interested applicants in Placer and El Dorado counties can apply by calling the El Dorado Air Quality Management District at (530) 621-7501.