Navigating your Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) bill can sometimes feel like deciphering a complex code. Terms like “PCIA,” “Wildfire Hardening Charge,” and “Public Purpose Programs” can leave you wondering exactly what you’re paying for. This guide breaks down common charges and programs listed on your PG&E bill to provide clarity and help you understand your energy costs.
Key Components of Your PG&E Bill Explained
To effectively manage your energy expenses, it’s crucial to understand the various charges that comprise your PG&E bill. Here’s a detailed look at some of the frequently seen items:
Meter Charge: Recovering Equipment Costs
The Meter Charge is designed to recover the costs associated with specialized equipment required for customers on time-of-use electric rate plans. These advanced meters are necessary to accurately measure energy consumption at different times of the day, which is the foundation of time-of-use rates.
Meter Constant and Multiplier: Calculating Consumption
These factors are technical adjustments used in calculating your energy usage.
- Meter Constant: This is a factor used to convert the readings from your electric meter into kilowatt-hours (kWh), the standard unit for measuring electricity consumption.
- Multiplier: Similarly, the Multiplier is used for gas meters. It converts the meter reading differences into Therms, a unit of heat energy for natural gas. This multiplier accounts for variations due to elevation, gas delivery pressure, and the heating value of the natural gas itself.
Nuclear Decommissioning: Ensuring Safe Site Restoration
The Nuclear Decommissioning fee contributes to the important process of restoring closed nuclear power plant sites to a safe and environmentally sound condition, as close to their original state as possible. This is a long-term responsibility associated with nuclear energy generation.
Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA): Addressing Past Energy Investments
The Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) is a charge designed to ensure fairness in covering the costs of electricity generation resources procured by PG&E on behalf of customers in the past. These resources were secured when market prices were different. The “above market” cost refers to the difference between what PG&E paid for these resources and current market prices. This charge applies even if you have switched to a different electricity provider, such as through Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). For more information, you can visit pge.com/cca.
Public Purpose Programs: Supporting Societal Benefits
Public Purpose Programs encompass a range of initiatives funded through your bill that are legally mandated to benefit society. These programs include crucial services such as:
- Low-income ratepayer assistance to help make energy more affordable for vulnerable households.
- Energy efficiency programs that promote conservation and help all customers reduce their energy consumption and lower their bills.
Recovery Bond Charge/Credit: Addressing Wildfire Costs
The Recovery Bond Charge (RBC) on your electric bill is related to the catastrophic wildfires California has experienced. This charge, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), is used to repay bonds issued to cover certain wildfire-related costs. Currently, the RBC rate is $0.00597 per kWh. Simultaneously, PG&E provides a Recovery Bond Credit of the same amount ($0.00597 per kWh), effectively neutralizing the charge for now. It’s important to note that the right to recover the RBC belongs to Special Purpose Entities that issued the bonds, not directly to PG&E. PG&E is simply collecting this charge on their behalf.
Rotating Outage Block: Understanding Potential Power Interruptions
Your Rotating Outage Block number is relevant only in the event of a severe power emergency that necessitates controlled power outages, as directed by the California Independent System Operator (ISO). This number indicates the sequence in which your area might experience a power interruption during such an emergency.
Serial: Relating to Your Meter Reading Schedule
The Serial code on your bill is linked to your meter reading schedule and determines when your meter is read for billing purposes. You can find your specific meter reading dates by visiting the meter reading schedule on the PG&E website.
SF Prop C Tax Surcharge: San Francisco Specific Tax
If you are a PG&E customer in San Francisco, you may see a SF Prop C Tax Surcharge. PG&E is required to collect this tax under San Francisco’s Proposition C, and it applies to all customers in San Francisco, regardless of their energy service provider.
Solar Choice Program: Accessing Solar Energy
The Solar Choice Program offers bundled PG&E customers a way to support solar energy without needing to install solar panels on their own property. Through this program, you can choose to have either 50% or 100% of your energy usage matched with solar energy. You can learn more about this program at community renewables and review the current tariff (PDF).
Time-of-Use Electric Rate Plan: Managing Energy Usage Times
A Time-of-Use Electric Rate Plan is designed to reflect the changing costs of electricity throughout the day and year. These plans feature:
- Higher rates during peak demand periods, typically weekday or weekend afternoons and evenings.
- Lower rates during off-peak hours, such as overnight and early morning.
- Seasonal price variations, with higher prices in the summer and lower prices in the winter.
With time-of-use plans, the timing of your energy usage becomes as important as how much energy you use. Shifting energy-intensive activities to off-peak hours can lead to significant savings.
Transmission: Delivering Electricity Across Distances
The Transmission charge reflects the cost of transporting electricity from power plants to your local distribution system. This involves the high-voltage power lines and towers that carry electricity over long distances.
Utility Users Tax (UUT): Local Government Tax Collection
The Utility Users Tax (UUT) is a tax that PG&E collects on behalf of city or county governments. If applicable in your area, this tax is calculated as a percentage of your total energy charges.
Wildfire Fund Charge: Statewide Wildfire Mitigation Fund
The Wildfire Fund Charge is collected on behalf of the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to fund the California Wildfire Fund. This fund was established to help cover costs associated with major wildfires. For usage before October 1, 2020, this charge also included costs related to the 2001 California energy crisis, also collected for the DWR. These funds are managed by the DWR, not PG&E.
Wildfire Hardening Charge: Investing in Safety and Reliability
The Wildfire Hardening Charge is a fixed charge on your electric bill that supports PG&E’s efforts to enhance the safety and resilience of its electric grid and reduce wildfire risk. These investments include measures to prevent and mitigate catastrophic wildfires. Similar to the Recovery Bond Charge, this charge is used to repay bonds issued for these wildfire safety improvements and is collected on behalf of a Special Purpose Entity. More details can be found in the Wildfire Hardening Fixed Recovery Charge document (PDF).
Understanding Bill Projections and Potential Care Programs
When you receive a PG&E bill projection or estimate, it’s important to understand what it typically includes. Bill projections are generally based on your past energy usage and current rates. Whether a PG&E bill projection includes specific “care program” charges depends on the nature of the program.
If you are enrolled in a low-income assistance program like CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) or FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance), the discounts associated with these programs should be reflected in your bill calculation, including projections. These programs directly impact your base energy rates.
However, projections may not always account for:
- One-time credits or adjustments: These can be unpredictable and are often applied retroactively.
- Enrollment in new programs: If you are considering enrolling in a new program, such as the Solar Choice Program or a specific energy efficiency incentive program, these changes will likely not be reflected in a projection until your enrollment is processed and becomes active.
To determine if your bill projection accurately reflects your participation in relevant care programs, it’s best to:
- Review your online PG&E account: Your account dashboard should display your current rate plan and any active program enrollments, including CARE/FERA or other assistance programs.
- Compare your projection to past bills: Check if previous bills already reflect program discounts. If so, the projection should ideally continue to include them.
- Contact PG&E directly: For clarification on specific program inclusion in your projection, or to inquire about enrolling in assistance programs, reaching out to PG&E customer service is always recommended.
By understanding the different components of your PG&E bill and how programs like CARE and FERA are applied, you can better interpret your bill projections and manage your energy costs effectively.
