Pacific Gas and Electric Company has announced a new effort to provide immediate relief to customers in the wake of last month's heat wave, which has resulted in substantial increases in energy usage and customers' bills. The utility plans to provide a one-time bill credit of 15 percent for all residential customers and a 10-percent bill credit to all other customers, including agricultural, business, commercial and governmental. The company is seeking the approval of its plans by the California Public Utilities Commission.

"The heat storm was an unprecedented, extraordinary event, and this is an unprecedented step by PG&E," said Helen Burt, senior vice president and chief customer officer. "We saw a clear need to lend an extra hand to customers by going above and beyond our traditional assistance programs and quickly creating this new credit. We will immediately move to obtain the necessary support of California regulators."

PG&E anticipates that the total amount credited to customers in October will be approximately $125 million. Once approved, the bill credit could begin appearing on customers' bills as early as Oct. 1.