Customers Don’t Have to Change Their Energy Use to Save
Oakland, California — A simple change could make a big difference in their energy bill. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is encouraging consumers 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 account online and using the rate comparison tool.
PG&E does not anticipate any further electricity rate increases for the remainder of 2025. The company expects combined residential gas and electric bills to remain essentially flat for the remainder of this year and to decrease in 2026.
While bills have been stabilizing since early 2024, customers may see higher bills during the summer months when they use more energy to cool their homes and businesses.
Ensuring customers are on the lowest-cost rate for their home or business can help them manage energy costs if they use more during the warmer summer months.
“Sharing simple solutions can help our customers manage their energy use and save money,” explained Vincent Davis, senior vice president of Customer Experience at PG&E. “Switching to the lowest-cost rate plan is as easy as counting to three.” Log in to 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 don’t have to change their energy usage to save money. That’s because PG&E’s Rate Comparison Tool analyzes their past 12 months of energy usage to determine the lowest-cost rate for them.
However, customers can save even more money by switching to a time-of-use rate and making some adjustments to use energy during lower-priced off-peak hours, when energy demand is lower.
Savings for Customers in Fresno County
PG&E analyzed the accounts of residential customers in Fresno County, which has some of the hottest climates in our service area, to see how much money customers could save on their lowest-cost rate.
Reviewing 12 months of previous usage, PG&E found that more than 24,800 households could potentially save a total of $13.4 million annually if they switched to the lowest-cost rate. Most Fresno County accounts analyzed could save more than $300 annually, and some could save much more: up to $1,000 annually.
About 70% of customers could generate annual savings by switching to the E-1 tiered rate. This rate has two price levels 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 price based on the time of day, week, and season of use.
While Fresno County customers could save without changing their usage, those savings could be even greater if they used energy during off-peak hours.
PG&E also provides all eligible residential customers with an annual rate comparison during their service anniversary month.
Other ways to save this Summer
PG&E offers low-cost or free tools to help customers save energy and money. Check out these options to see how you can manage your energy use and bills.
Budget Billing averages your energy costs from the past 12 months to determine your monthly payment and avoid seasonal spikes and bill surprises.
Home Energy Checkup is a free online tool that helps customers assess their energy use and offers personalized savings tips.
HomeIntel is a free energy-saving program that includes a Smart Audit and a personal energy advisor. 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 provides 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. Find out if you qualify here:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Offers a 20% monthly discount on gas bills and an average of about 35% on electric bills (compared to customers not in the CARE program).
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: New guidelines offer an 18% monthly discount on electricity, regardless of the number of people in the household.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: Offers certain energy-saving upgrades free of charge.
- PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) Program: A program that provides a bill credit of up to $300 to help income-eligible customers with past-due balances avoid service disconnections.
- PG&E Match My Payment: Offers the same match amount, up to a maximum of $1,000, to help qualified low- to moderate-income customers pay their past-due energy bills and avoid service disconnection. Customers must make a payment of at least $50 of their past-due bill each time to receive the match.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A federally funded, state-supervised assistance program that offers a one-time payment of up to $1,500 on past-due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling their homes.
