Understanding Your PG&E Bill
Understanding Your PG&E Bill: What to Look For and Why It Matters
by Lizzy Velthoen,
CivicSpark Fellow
Your PG&E bill contains valuable information that can help you understand your household’s energy use, rate plan, and monthly costs. This guide walks through the key sections of your bill, explains programs like Time-of-Use rates and energy assistance, and highlights how your bill can help you identify opportunities to save energy and access rebates. It also shares how NREN’s free energy services and resources can help you take the next step toward improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Most people look at their PG&E bill long enough to see how much they owe each month, then move on. But your bill contains much more than just your monthly balance. It can help you understand how your home uses energy, why your bill changes throughout the year, and what programs or rate plans you may be enrolled in.
Whether you’re looking to lower your energy costs, improve your home’s efficiency, or apply for energy rebates, understanding your PG&E bill is a great place to start.
Understanding Your Energy Use
One of the first things you’ll notice is your monthly electricity use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour is the unit PG&E uses to measure how much electricity your household uses during a billing period. Every appliance in your home contributes to this total, from your refrigerator and water heater to your lights and television.
Your bill also compares your electricity use to previous months or even the same time last year. Looking at these trends can help you identify seasonal changes or recognize when your household is using more electricity than usual.
(Example bill from PG&E.)
Check Your Rate Plan
Another important section of your bill is your rate plan. Your rate plan determines how you’re charged for the electricity you use, and understanding which one you’re on can help explain why your bill changes from month to month.
Many residential customers are enrolled in a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan. Under these plans, electricity costs different amounts depending on the time of day. Rates are generally higher during evening peak hours, such as 5–9 p.m., when demand on the electric grid is greatest, and lower during off-peak hours.
(Time of Use graphic from PG&E)
Depending on your household schedule, shifting activities like running the dishwasher, doing laundry, or charging an electric vehicle outside of peak hours may help reduce your electricity costs.
Some customers may still be on a tiered rate plan. Instead of charging different prices throughout the day, tiered plans charge based on how much electricity you use during your monthly billing cycle. As your electricity use increases beyond your baseline allowance, the price per kilowatt-hour also increases. If you’re on a tiered plan, reducing your overall electricity use may help keep more of your energy consumption within the lower-priced tier.
Have Solar? Look for Net Energy Metering
If your home has solar panels, your bill may also reference Net Energy Metering (NEM). Under NEM, the electricity your solar system generates can offset some of the electricity you purchase from PG&E. Depending on when your system produces electricity and when your household uses it, you may receive bill credits or see additional charges. The way these credits are calculated depends on which version of NEM your solar system is enrolled in.
No single rate plan is the best fit for every household. The right option depends on when your household uses electricity, how much energy you typically use, and whether you have equipment like solar panels or an electric vehicle. If you’re unsure whether your current rate plan is the best fit, PG&E offers online tools that compare available rate plans based on your actual energy use.
Look Beyond the Amount Due
While the amount due is usually the first thing people notice, it’s often not the most useful part of the bill. Your daily energy use graph shows how much electricity your household used each day during the billing period. This can help explain why one month’s bill may be higher than another—whether it’s because of hotter weather, colder temperatures, guests staying in your home, or changes in your daily routine.
You’ll also notice that your bill is broken into several different charges. In general, these include charges for the electricity you use, charges to deliver that electricity to your home, and other fees that support operating and maintaining California’s electric grid. Understanding these sections can help explain why your monthly bill may change even when your electricity use stays relatively similar.
Check for Energy Assistance Programs
If you’re concerned about your energy costs, it’s also worth checking whether you’re enrolled in any available assistance programs. PG&E offers several income-qualified programs that can help reduce monthly utility bills.
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program provides discounted electric and gas rates for qualifying households, while the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program offers reduced electric rates for larger households that meet income guidelines. Customers with certain medical conditions or who rely on qualifying medical equipment may also qualify for the Medical Baseline Program, which provides additional baseline electricity allowances.
CARE
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).
FERA
The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program helps eligible customers pay their energy bill. Income-qualified customers get an 18 percent monthly discount on electric rates.
Medical Baseline
The Medical Baseline Program is also known as Medical Baseline Allowance. It assists residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs.
Your PG&E Bill Can Help You Access Energy Programs
Knowing your PG&E bill and where to find certain information can also be helpful when applying for energy efficiency programs and rebates. Information such as your account number, Service Agreement ID (SAID), and current rate plan may be needed when scheduling a Home Energy Assessment or applying for certain rebate programs.
Understanding your PG&E bill doesn’t require knowing every detail. Simply becoming familiar with your electricity use, your rate plan, and the programs available to you can help you make more informed decisions about your home’s energy use and identify opportunities to save.
If you’re interested in learning more about improving your home’s energy efficiency, the Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers free Home Energy Assessments, energy-saving Home Kits de Eficiencia Energética, and rebates for qualifying home upgrades and appliances. Our team can also help answer questions about available programs and connect you with resources that fit your household’s needs.
About the Northern Rural Energy Network:
Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers energy efficiency programs to rural communities, delivering cost savings and strengthening community resilience for the North Coast and the Sierra Nevada. More information on NREN’s services can be found at NorthernREN.org.
Discounts on energy bills for qualified households
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE):
Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 30-35 percent discount on their electric bill and a 20 percent discount on their natural gas bill.
To request an application form and more information, please contact your utility company or check out their websites for more information.