Compare and Save: Switching Rate Plan May Lower PG&E Customers' Bills

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG) is encouraging customers to check and switch to their lowest-cost rate plan to reduce energy bills. Using PG&E's Rate Comparison tool, customers can identify potential savings without changing their energy consumption patterns. Analysis of Fresno County revealed that over 24,800 households could collectively save $13.4 million annually, with individual savings ranging from $300 to $1,000 per year.

The company forecasts no additional electric rate increases for 2025 and expects bills to decrease in 2026. PG&E also offers various assistance programs including CARE (20% gas and 35% electric discount), FERA (18% electricity discount), and the Match My Payment Program offering up to $1,000 in matching funds for past-due bills.

Positive

• No additional electric rate increases expected for remainder of 2025
• Bills projected to decrease in 2026
• Potential savings of up to $1,000 annually for some customers through rate plan optimization
• Multiple financial assistance programs available with significant discounts

Negative

• Higher bills expected during summer months due to increased cooling needs
• 70% of analyzed Fresno County customers currently on suboptimal rate plans

Customers Don't Have to Change Their Energy Use to Save

OAKLAND, Calif., July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One simple change could make a big difference in your energy bill. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is encouraging customers to check that they are on the lowest-cost rate plan for their home or business.

Customers can find their lowest rate simply by logging into their PG&E online account and using the Rate Comparison tool.

PG&E forecasts no additional electric rate increases for the rest of 2025. The company expects residential combined gas and electric bills to be essentially flat for the rest of this year and go down in 2026.

While yearly bills have stabilized since the beginning of 2024, customers may see higher bills during the summer months if they use more energy to cool their homes and businesses.

Ensuring customers are on the lowest-cost rate for their household or business can help them manage energy costs if they use more energy during the warmer summer months.

"Sharing simple solutions can help our customers manage their energy use and save money," said Vincent Davis, PG&E senior vice president of customer experience. "Switching to the lowest-cost rate plan is as easy as 1-2-3. Log into your online account, compare rate plans using the online tool and select the lowest-cost plan for you."

Customers who switch to a lower-cost rate do not have to change their energy use to save money. That's because PG&E's rate comparison tool analyzes their last 12 months of energy usage to determine their lowest-cost rate.

However, customers may save even more money by switching to a time-of-use rate and shifting some energy use to lower-priced off-peak hours, when energy demand is lower.

Customer Savings in Fresno County

PG&E analyzed residential customer accounts in Fresno County, one of the hottest climates in its service area, to see how much money customers could save on their lowest-cost rate.

Looking at 12 months of their prior usage, PG&E found more than 24,800 households could potentially save a total of $13.4 million a year by switching to their lowest-cost rate. Most of the Fresno County accounts reviewed could save more than $300 dollars a year and some could save much more—up to $1,000 a year.

About 70% of the customers could save annually by moving off of the E-1 tiered rate. This rate has two pricing levels which are based on energy usage. The more energy you use, the higher the price per unit of energy. By switching to time-of-use rates customers could save money. These rates vary in pricing depending on when you use energy during the day, week and season.

While these Fresno County customers could save without changing their usage, they may save even more money by changing their usage to off-peak times.

PG&E also provides all eligible residential customers an annual rate comparison on their service anniversary month.

Other ways to save this summer

PG&E offers other no- and low-cost tools to help customers save energy and money. Check out these options to see what you can manage your energy use and bills.

• Budget Billing averages your energy costs over the last 12 months to determine your monthly payment and avoid season spikes and billing surprises.
• Home Energy Checkup is a free online tool that helps customers assess their energy use and provides customized savings tips.
• HomeIntel is a free energy saving program that includes a Smart Audit and a personal energy coach. Customers who have lived in their home for more than a year and have a smart meter installed are eligible to participate.
• Savings Finder is a free online tool that gives personalized recommendations for financial assistance, bill management programs and other resources to ease monthly energy costs.

Customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills may also be eligible for financial assistance. See if you qualify here:

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: offers a monthly discount of 20% on gas and an average of about 35% on electric bills (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: new guidelines provide a monthly discount of 18% on electricity, regardless of household size.  
• Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program provides certain energy-saving improvements at no charge.
• PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): provides up to a $300 bill credit to help income-eligible customers with past due balances to prevent service disconnections.
• PG&E Match My Payment Program: offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low-to moderate-income customers to pay past-due bills to prevent service disconnections. Customers must make at least a $50 payment toward their outstanding bill each time to receive matching dollars.
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,500 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news 

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is PG&E (NYSE:PCG) forecasting for electric rates in 2025?

PG&E forecasts no additional electric rate increases for the remainder of 2025, with residential combined gas and electric bills expected to remain flat for the rest of the year and decrease in 2026.

How much can PG&E customers in Fresno County save by switching rate plans?

Analysis shows that over 24,800 Fresno County households could save a total of $13.4 million annually, with most households saving more than $300 per year and some up to $1,000 annually.

What financial assistance programs does PG&E offer for customers?

PG&E offers several programs including CARE (20% gas and 35% electric discounts), FERA (18% electricity discount), REACH (up to $300 bill credit), and the Match My Payment Program (up to $1,000 matching funds).

How can PG&E customers find their lowest-cost rate plan?

Customers can find their lowest-cost rate plan by logging into their PG&E online account and using the Rate Comparison tool, which analyzes the past 12 months of energy usage.

What is PG&E's time-of-use rate plan?

Time-of-use rates vary pricing depending on when energy is used during the day, week and season. Customers can save money by shifting energy use to lower-priced off-peak hours when demand is lower.