Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is expanding its support for small and medium businesses in California’s Central Valley, focusing on energy savings and operational efficiency. The company reports that over 39,000 business customers in Fresno, Madera, and Kern Counties have saved more than 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of energy and received upwards of $2.3 million in incentives through rebate and financing programs during the past three years.
PG&E’s Small Business Engagement Team leads outreach efforts by contacting new business owners within their first six weeks of service as part of the Welcome Series initiative. According to Joshua Simes, Vice President for PG&E’s Central Valley region, “This early outreach is more than just connecting a business to the grid. It’s about building trust and showing business owners we’re here to help them succeed long-term.”
The utility offers several programs aimed at reducing costs for local businesses. Elizabeth Carranza of Setton Farms in Terra Bella said, “We saved $31,000 annually at one location just by switching to the best rate plan for our operations. It didn’t cost us time or money.” Johna Calandra of Woods Family Farms in Kingsburg added, “By updating our rate plan, we reduced our annual energy bill by 15%—that’s $10,000 in savings.”
Small businesses account for 99% of PG&E’s commercial customer base across more than 300,000 accounts. Simes stated: “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’re proud to support them with tailored energy solutions, cost-saving programs, and local partnerships. Our goal is to make energy more affordable, reliable, and accessible.”
