PG&E asks carmakers to hurry up on plug-in hybrids
By Bernie Woodall
6 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is asking its 5.1 million customers to petition automakers to speed up development of plug-in electric-gasoline hybrid vehicles, California's largest utility said on Friday.
Along with their power and gas bills for September, PG&E customers will get a request to lobby the automakers.
PG&E and its parent, PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG - news), have joined with an Austin, Texas-based organization called "Plug-In Partners" that has set up an Internet petition drive to pressure U.S. and foreign automakers to make cars that can charge up by plugging in to a regular 120-volt household outlet.
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"Automakers aren't convinced there are enough buyers," PG&E's Howard said. "That's why PG&E is hoping to harness the power of its 5.1 million customers."
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Utilities like PG&E will not benefit from any increase in power use by its customers, said Taber of PG&E. Their rates are regulated by state agencies and they do not make more profit if they sell more electricity, Taber said.
PG&E officials say that if plug-in hybrids do become common, they will urge customers to plug in at night when the power grid is not as strained as it is during daylight hours.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060902/bs_nm/autos_hybrid_petition_dc_1