December 6, 2002

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Dec. 6, 2002—Southern California Edison’s (SCE) residential customers received discounts totaling $52.6 million during the past four months for using 20% less electricity than during the same period in 2000.  The discounts, averaging $10.34 per qualifying bill, were made possible through the state’s 20/20 summer rebate program. 

Customers earning the rebate reduced overall consumption more during this second summer of the 20/20 program than they did last year.  In August 2002, for example, program participants reduced usage 41% compared to a 40% reduction in August 2001.  The reduction saved the state almost 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power approximately 760,000 homes during a summer month.

“We commend our customers for a second straight summer of noteworthy energy conservation and efficiency,” said Pam Bass, SCE’s senior vice president of customer service.   “Because participation levels were almost identical to those during the summer of 2001, 32% this summer compared to 33% in 2001, it is clear a large number of our customers have made lifestyle changes that will benefit them and the state for years to come.”

Residential customers qualified for the 20/20 rebate by reducing energy consumption by at least 20% during July through October compared to the same billing period in 2000.   A 20% rebate was automatically applied to qualifying residential bills.

Comparison of SCE 20/20 Program Results, 2001 vs. 2002
SCE's Residential Customers Only
Accounts
Billed
Credits
Issued
% Of
Bills
Total
Value
Avg. Credit %
Reduction
 
(July 2001 data not used because 2002 program began one month later)
 
Aug-01 4,296,700 1,762,209 41% $25,498,463 $14.47 40%
Aug-02 4,199,460 1,525,241 36% $19,854,711 $13.02 41%
 
Sep-01 3,547,442 1,096,752 31% $13,592,153 $12.39 39%
Sep-02 4,120,178 1,254,591 30% $13,904,529 $11.08 40%
 
Oct-01 3,951,194 1,040,638 26% $10,348,894 $9.94 39%
Oct-02 3,751,612 1,151,225 31% $10,113,323 $8.78 41%
 
(Nov 2002 data not used because 2001 program ended one month earlier)
 
2001 Totals 15,233,443 4,951,204 33% $61,435,106 $12.33
2002 Totals 15,809,454 5,092,153 32% $52,652,599 $10.34

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An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 12 million via 4.3 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.  For more information on the California electricity market, see www.sce.com.