The weather is warming up for the Summer, and we all know what that means–massive PG&E bills!
Last Summer, our readers reported bills as high as $1,200 per month. And with a hot summer predicted this year, bills are likely to soar again.
We researched 6 practical ways to reduce your bill, without necessarily cutting back your cooling.
1. Check whether your PG&E rate plan still fits your life
If you picked your PG&E plan years ago, it’s time to check whether it’s still the best one. There are tons of plans, and they’re confusing. But you can now log into PG&E and use the Compare tool to see which plan saves you the most.
Here’s a video I made about it years ago that still works well:
PG&E’s summer time-of-use season runs from June 1 through Sept. 30, and summer prices are higher than the rest of the year. On E-TOU-C, peak pricing runs from 4 to 9 p.m. every day. On E-TOU-D, the peak window is 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, while weekends and most holidays are off-peak.
PG&E also notes that some customers can save by shifting use and staying within their Baseline Allowance as long as possible according to the utility.
That does not mean one plan is best for everyone. It means the cheapest plan depends on when your household actually uses power.
Here’s the link for choosing plans: https://myaccount.pge.com/myaccount/s/compare-rate-plans-residential
2. Treat 4-9 p.m. like the expensive zone
If you remember only one thing this summer, make it this: late afternoon and evening are often the costliest hours.
Try moving laundry, dishwashing, oven use, EV charging, and pool pumps outside the peak window. If you have air conditioning, pre-cooling the house before peak hours can matter more than people expect. For many homes, shifting use is more realistic — and more effective — than trying to use dramatically less power overall.
3. Use the East Bay’s cooler evenings instead of blasting AC late
This is where local climate can actually help.
KQED reported that in monitored homes in Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties, indoor temperatures could stay hotter than outdoor temperatures at night — in some cases by 15 to 20 degrees. Homes were also found to hold heat longer than many residents might assume during hot spells.
On typical summer days, that makes a basic routine worth trying: let in cooler evening air, then close windows and shut blinds or curtains in the morning to hold onto it. Just be careful during wildfire smoke events or dangerous heat, when public health guidance may point you in a different direction.
Cross ventalation is your friend. Open two or more windows to get airflow moving through the house at night, and to shed the heat from the day.
4. Turn on PG&E’s free bill-warning tools
A lot of summer bill stress is really surprise-bill stress.
PG&E’s free Bill Forecast Alert lets eligible SmartMeter customers set a monthly threshold and get a text, email, or phone alert if their bill is trending above that amount. Customers can also log in to review daily usage, cost trends, weather comparisons, and similar-home benchmarks through PG&E.
If you feel blindsided every August, this is one of the easiest fixes on the list. At least you’ll know what’s coming!
5. If you qualify, stack discounts before cutting comfort
PG&E offers many assistance programs–especially for seniors and lower income residents. But even high earners can qualify for certain programs.
PG&E says qualifying households on CARE can cut their bills by 20 percent or more. FERA offers an 18 percent discount on electricity bills for households whose income is slightly above CARE limits, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.
PG&E also says CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline still apply even if you receive generation service from a community choice aggregator, which matters for many East Bay residents on the CARE page and the CPUC’s FERA page.
California’s LIHEAP program can also help with immediate home heating and cooling needs, though eligibility and funding vary through local administration.
6. Look for East Bay and Bay Area rebates many people miss
Some of the best savings happen before the bill arrives.
BayREN’s rebate finder says PG&E customers may be able to get instant Golden State Rebates on items including smart thermostats and room air conditioners.
BayREN also offers Home Energy Advisors who can help residents spot ways to save money and energy around the house through its programs. In Alameda County, Ava Community Energy offers its own local savings and incentives finder for home electrification and appliance rebates for area households.
One final note: Budget Billing can help smooth monthly payments, but it does not reduce what you owe over the year. It is a cash-flow tool, not a discount. Still, it’s worth looking into if you want more predicibility in your bills.
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