PG&E Display's New Ads to Change Image - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

PG&E display's new ads aimed to change image for customers. Spokespeople with Pacific Gas and Electric company said they hope the new ad campaign gets customers back on their side after a rocky last few years in the spotlight.  

You may have seen the ads on TV or heard in on the radio. PG&E's new CEO admitted the company has 'lost its way' in the last few years.  We asked the company where it went wrong? "Our research with customers pointed out a very specific need to take ownership of past mistakes and that's exactly what we've done," said Spokesman Joe Molica.

Most will argue the major disconnect between the company and its customers started in 2010 when 8 people were killed in a pipeline explosion in San Bruno. Then a year later, major protests popped up on the Central Coast against new smart meter technology. Opponents said the new meter readers emitted radio frequencies that were hazardous to your health, a claim PG&E still denies. After a long battle, it agreed to customers to keep analog meters for an extra $15 per month.

Now PG&E has a proposal in front of the California Utilities Commission to increase you electric and gas bill to foot the bill for what they've dubbed their safety enhancement plan. You could pay as much as 15% more per month.  "We have paid out of shareholder dollars for past but there are many new pipeline regulations," said Molica.

Now PG&E is spending $10 million on an ad campaign to give you a new promise. The ad said it was making a promise to make their prices more affordable. We asked how? PG&E answered "What we want is to communicate with our customers. With this outreach program is the progress that we're making every day," said Molica.

PG&E also said the money for the new ads came from shareholders, not customers. The energy giant is also planning on putting out new ads in papers and billboards in the next few weeks.