Power Saver Rewards Program
frequently asked questions

the Program

What is the Power Saver Rewards Program?

The Power Saver Rewards Program is a free program offered by PG&E that rewards participants for temporarily reducing energy use when the demand for electricity is high.

The Power Saver Rewards Program is administered by Olivine, Inc. on behalf of PG&E through ClimateResponse^®. Learn more about Olivine at olivineinc.com.

ClimateResponse^® also offers a web and mobile app for PG&E customers to track your energy use and bill credits, get helpful tips on how to save energy, and get notified about Power Saver Rewards events. Get the app on the App Store and Google Play or access the web version here.
How will the Power Saver Rewards Program help during grid emergencies?

Power Saver Rewards events may occur from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m on select hot summer days between May 1 and October 31 during critical times when the demand for electricity is high. If an event occurs, participating customers will be notified to reduce their energy use during events to keep the energy grid reliable for everyone. Participants can temporarily reduce their energy use by turning their thermostat to 78 degrees or higher (health permitting), turning off lights not in use and giving their appliances a break – every action matters. When everyone helps to reduce their electricity use, it reduces the overall strain on the grid during an emergency.

Program Events

How do Power Saver Rewards events work?

You can be notified of an upcoming Power Saver Rewards event the day before the event through email, text message, and/or push notifications on the mobile app. Events may occur from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. between May 1 and October 31. You can sign up for text alerts here.
The Power Saver Rewards Program asks participating households to reduce energy use during the event period or move high energy use activities to another time.
What will trigger an event?

Power Saver Rewards events are triggered when the California Independent System Operator issues a Flex Alert or an Energy Emergency Alert Watch. If a Flex Alert or an Energy Emergency Alert Watch is issued on short notice and does not allow for day before notification, then a Power Saver Rewards event will not be called for that day.
How many times will I be called to respond to an event?

The number of Power Saver Rewards events depends on how many times the California Independent System Operator issues an Energy Emergency Alert Watch and/or Flex Alert. Events last for five hours between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and may be called on consecutive days. The annual limit for Power Saver Rewards events is 60 hours (or 12 events).
What happens if there are not any events in a season?

Power Saver Rewards events are triggered during grid emergencies when the demand for electricity is high. If grid emergencies do not take place, then no Power Saver Rewards events will be called. If there aren’t events, customers will not have the opportunity to earn a bill credit. Customers who continue to meet the program eligibility criteria will remain enrolled for next year’s program season and no action is necessary.
If the hours for a Flex Alert or an Energy Emergency Alert Watch are different, will the Power Saver Rewards event times change?
Is there a penalty for not responding to a request to lower my energy use?

Program Benefits

What are the benefits of participating in the Power Saver Rewards Program?
Your actions together with other members of your community help to reduce energy on select hot summer days when demand for electricity is high. The benefits include:

Fewer rotating power outages and reduced possibility of the power being out for a much longer period of time.

Preventing the need for peaker plants, usually run on fossil fuels, which tend to be dirtier and give off more greenhouse gasses.

Additionally, the Power Saver Rewards Program compensates customers $1 per kilowatt hour (kWh)* of reduced electricity usage during events. The more energy you save, the more you can earn.

*A kWh is a measure of how much electricity is used. One kWh equals the amount of energy consumed if a 1,000-watt appliance is used for an hour.
How much money can I earn?
Can I redeem my rewards for cash?
When will I receive compensation for my participation?

If an event occurs, you will be compensated for any energy reduced during Power Saver Rewards events in the first months of the following calendar year. Only participants whose participating service agreement is active will receive a bill credit. You’ll also receive an end-of-season report that shows a summary of how much energy you saved during the Power Saver Rewards Program season.
How is the amount of energy I reduced during a Power Saver Rewards event determined?

The amount of energy you used during an event is compared against the amount of energy you used on recent, similar, non-event days during the same time period to determine the amount of energy you saved.
To calculate your expected energy usage, we identify the 10 previous weekdays (if the event is on a weekday) or the 5 previous weekend days or holidays (if the event is on a weekend or holiday). Within those days, we choose the 5 days with the highest energy usage for a weekday event or the 3 days with the highest energy usage for a weekend or holiday event. Only the days that did not experience an event or power outage are considered. We calculate your average energy usage for a weekday event or the weighted average for a weekend or holiday event. Lastly, an adjustment is made to allow for weather conditions based on your energy usage during the hours before and after the event compared to the same hours on the selected similar days.
The difference between your expected energy usage and your actual energy usage during the event is what you will be paid for, applied as a yearly credit to your bill.

Program Eligibility and Enrollment

Am I eligible for the Power Saver Rewards Program?
To participate, you must meet all of the following criteria:
Be an electric service customer of PG&E or a customer of a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) participating in the program (Sonoma Clean Power and San José Clean Energy customers are not eligible)
Have a SmartMeter and PG&E is able to issue your bill using SmartMeter data
Not be enrolled in a conflicting PG&E or non-utility energy reducing, peak hour program. PG&E bundled customers enrolled in Power Saver Rewards may also dual-enroll in the SmartRate™ program. To learn more about your options, visit Demand Response Programs.
Some PG&E customers were automatically enrolled in 2022 and 2023 by order of the California Public Utilities Commission, decision D.21-12-015. They include:
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program customers
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program customers
Select customers signed up to receive PG&E Home Energy Reports
Solar customers that meet the eligibility criteria can enroll in the program and will be compensated for reducing energy use beyond typical usage during events. However, Power Saver Rewards does not compensate for export of solar energy to the grid.
How do I know if I am a PG&E electric customer?
How do I know if I am enrolled in the Power Saver Rewards Program?

To check if you are already enrolled in the Power Saver Rewards Program, you’ll need to provide specific account information so we can check your enrollment status. Click here to see if your home is already enrolled. If you are not already enrolled, you will have the option to enroll your home in the program.
How do I enroll in the Power Saver Rewards Program?
If you meet the eligibility requirements but have not already been enrolled in the program, you can enroll through the web based enrollment application or through the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine.
You’ll need the following information to sign up:
The first and last name of the account holder
At least two of the following:
A phone number on file with PG&E
An email address on file with PG&E
Your PG&E account number
Your contact information to receive notifications about Power Saver Rewards events and any additional program communications
You can download the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine on your smartphone through the App Store or Google Play Store and create an account. Or, you can also access the web version of the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine here. Then watch your savings grow!
How long does it take to verify my enrollment?
Can multiple people in my household enroll?
Can I leave the Power Saver Rewards Program at any time?
How can I update my contact information for Power Saver Rewards events and program communications?

You may update your contact information for Power Saver Rewards event notifications and program communications at any time by clicking here. You will be prompted to provide your PG&E account information for validation. Once successfully validated, click “Update Contact Information” to edit your contacts.
On the “Enter Your Contact Details” page, you may edit your contact information and then follow the prompts to save your changes. If you have multiple homes enrolled in the Power Saver Rewards Program, any changes to your contact information will be applied to all homes.
My name isn’t on my home’s PG&E account. Can I still enroll?
Yes, you can enroll if you have access to the following information:
The first and last name of the account holder
At least two of the following:
A phone number on file with PG&E
An email address on file with PG&E
Your PG&E account number
Can solar customers enroll in the Power Saver Rewards Program?

Common Concerns

I’m concerned about my privacy. What will you do with the information you collect?

Your privacy is very important to PG&E. In accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act, the personal information collected as part of the program will not be made public in a way that can be used to identify you. The information collected is only shared for regulatory compliance and reporting purposes. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information.
Will PG&E shut off my air conditioning or other devices?

No, PG&E will not directly control or turn off any devices or appliances in your home in response to a Power Saver Rewards event. Participating in Power Saver Rewards events is completely voluntary and the actions you take in response to an event are up to you. You will always have control over your home’s electricity consumption.
Will I need to buy anything or pay to participate?

the ClimateResponse^® App by Olivine

What is the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?

The ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine is available to all PG&E customers who are part of the Power Saver Rewards Program. The ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine is available in mobile formats on the Apple or Google Play Stores. A web version is also available for customers without smartphones. Through the app, customers can enroll in the program, view home energy use patterns, get helpful tips on how to save energy, receive notifications about program events, track program earnings and get energy and environmental impact reports.
Do I need to pay for the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?
Am I enrolled in the Power Saver Rewards Program when I sign up on the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?

If you have created an account, met all of the eligibility criteria, and completed the enrollment process for the Power Saver Rewards Program on the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine, you are enrolled in the Power Saver Rewards Program. You will receive an email welcoming you to the program after your enrollment has been processed.
How do I enable my phone to receive text notifications through the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?
If you wish to be notified of events by text, follow the instructions in the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine.
Go to Settings > Account > and select Add phone number
Enter your mobile phone number and select Send Code on the next page
Enter the 6 digit code sent to your phone number to validate and then complete the remaining steps to set up text message notifications
How do I update my contact information through the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?
If you wish to update your contact information, follow the instructions in the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine.
Go to Settings > Account
Edit the first name, last name, and mobile phone number associated with your account
Why isn’t the The ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine recognizing my PG&E account?
If your account is already enrolled in Power Saver Rewards, you must match the following:
The first and last name of the account holder
At least two of the following:
A phone number on file with PG&E
An email address on file with PG&E
Your PG&E account number
Why can’t I see my historical energy use in the ClimateResponse^® app by Olivine?

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Power Saver Rewards Program frequently asked questions

the Program

Program Events

Program Benefits

Program Eligibility and Enrollment

Common Concerns

the ClimateResponse® App by Olivine

Ready to enroll?

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Power Saver Rewards Program
frequently asked questions

the ClimateResponse^® App by Olivine