SDG&E customers see discounted electric bill in October

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- San Diego Gas & Electric customers can expect to see discounted electricity bills this month.

In October, SDG&E customers will notice a $81.38 discount for the electricity portion of their monthly billing statements.

Since billing cycles differ from household to household, customers will receive the credit at varying times in the month.

More than 11.5 million households in California will see discounts on their electricity bills in October, which include customers of PG&E, Southern California Gas Company and Southwest Gas.

This discount is due to the California Climate Credit, which provides ratepayers with their share of the state's Cap-and-Trade Program. The electric credits are typically issued twice a year in April and October, while a natural gas credit is also issued in April.

The Cap-and-Trade Program is part of California's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It was designed by the California Air Resources Board to create incentives for utility companies and industries across the Golden State to move toward clean energy sources, including solar, wind and geothermal.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1207, extending the program for the next two decades.