The short version
- Since March 2026, most PG&E customers pay a fixed Base Services Charge of about $24 a month, and slightly lower prices per kWh.
- On time-of-use plans, electricity is most expensive from 4 to 9 p.m. every day.
- The best rate plan depends on your home: EVs, heat pumps and solar can change which plan is cheapest.
- In Marin, Napa and Sonoma, a local clean energy provider may supply your power while PG&E delivers it and sends the bill.
The Base Services Charge
Starting March 1, 2026, PG&E added a fixed monthly Base Services Charge to most residential bills: about $24 a month for most customers, and about $6 for CARE and $12 for FERA income-qualified customers. At the same time, the price per kWh went down by several cents.
For planning, this matters in two ways. Using more electricity for an EV or heat pump costs a little less per kWh than before. And solar credits can't offset the fixed charge, so a solar home's bill never drops all the way to zero.
Time-of-use: when you use it matters
Most PG&E residential customers are on time-of-use plans, where the price depends on the time of day. The peak is 4 to 9 p.m. every day, including weekends, and prices are also higher in summer. Running the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging outside those hours is one of the easiest ways to lower your bill.
Common rate plans
E-TOU-C
A standard time-of-use plan for many households.
E-ELEC
Designed for homes with electric equipment like heat pumps, EVs or batteries.
EV2-A
Designed for homes with an EV, with low overnight prices.
CARE and FERA
Income-qualified discounts that can apply alongside a plan.
Which plan is cheapest depends on how much electricity you use and when. PG&E's online rate comparison tool uses your actual smart meter data to compare plans, and it's worth rechecking after any big change, like adding an EV or heat pump.
Who supplies your power?
In much of the North Bay, a community choice aggregator buys the electricity: MCE in Marin and Napa, and Sonoma Clean Power in Sonoma. PG&E still delivers the power, maintains the lines and sends one combined bill, with separate sections for delivery and generation. That's why your bill shows two sets of charges.
Your gas bill
Gas is billed by the therm. Winter bills rise with heating, and prices can change month to month. When you compare a gas appliance with an electric one, use your actual cost per therm and per kWh from recent bills; the calculators on this site let you enter both.
Find your own numbers
Your PG&E online account shows your usage by month, day and even hour. Twelve months of data is the single most useful thing to bring to any conversation about solar, batteries or electrification, because it shows exactly when you use power, not just how much.
Questions to ask your contractor
- Which rate plan did you assume, and is it the one I'm on?Savings estimates depend heavily on the plan.
- Did you include the Base Services Charge?A quote showing a $0 bill is leaving it out.
- Should I switch plans after this upgrade?EVs, heat pumps and batteries can change the best plan.
- Did you use my actual hourly usage data?It's more accurate than an average monthly bill.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Never comparing rate plans. Your best plan can change as your home changes.
- Running big loads from 4 to 9 p.m. Scheduling saves money for free.
- Using the average bill to size solar. Hourly usage tells a much better story.
- Expecting a $0 bill with solar. The fixed charge remains.
Run the numbers for your home
This guide is general education, not advice for your specific home. Equipment, rebates and PG&E rates change; confirm details with a qualified professional. Unfamiliar term? See the glossary. Have a question it didn't answer? Ask Robert.