PG&E rates more than doubled
from 2015 to 2025.
104% increase, per the CPUC Public Advocates Office. More locked in through 2030. The wildfire infrastructure spending driving most of it isn't finished. Here's what's actually happening, what's coming, and what solar and battery changes on your bill.
Get a Free QuoteWhy PG&E rates more than doubled.
The short version.
Wildfire mitigation costs
PG&E and SCE have spent over $23 billion on wildfire mitigation through 2025 — grid hardening, undergrounding, covered conductor, and enhanced power line safety. The CPUC allows PG&E to recover those costs through rates. Most of what you pay in the delivery portion of your bill goes here.
General Rate Case approvals
Every three to four years, PG&E files a General Rate Case with the CPUC requesting cost recovery for infrastructure investment. The 2023 GRC authorized significant capital projects. The 2027 GRC, filed May 2025, proposes a further 3.5% average annual increase from 2027 through 2030.
Fixed Base Services Charge (March 2026)
Starting March 2026, PG&E added a fixed Base Services Charge of approximately $24 per month to all residential accounts. This charge applies regardless of how much electricity you use, or how much solar you produce. Solar reduces your variable usage charges but does not offset this fixed line item.
How the rate climbed.
And where it's going.
These are average residential rates. Your bill depends on your rate plan, usage tier, and the fixed charges that apply to all customers.
Source: CPUC Public Advocates Office Q1 2025 Electric Rates Report. PG&E E-1 residential rate plan pricing. Figures are averages. Your rate depends on your plan and usage.
What the rate climb costs
on a real PG&E bill.
Example: 1,200 kWh/month home in El Dorado Hills. Same house, same usage. What it cost in 2015 vs what it costs now vs what it's projected to cost if increases continue.
These are illustrative estimates based on average E-1 rates and proposed GRC increases. Actual rates depend on your plan, usage tier, and CPUC decisions. The 2027 GRC increase is proposed, not yet approved.
What solar and battery
does to this picture.
Solar offsets most of your variable usage. A battery stores what you produce during the day and uses it at night when PG&E rates are highest. Together, they reduce your bill to mostly the fixed Base Services Charge, which is currently around $24 per month.
The rate that's rising most is the delivery charge, which has been the main driver since 2015. Solar and battery don't eliminate the fixed charge, but they do protect you from the usage-based portion that keeps climbing.
The consultative math we run at the free consult models your current bill, your projected bill at 3.5% annual increases through 2030, and what solar and battery changes both numbers. You see the 10-year picture side by side before you decide anything.
Illustrative estimate for a well-sized system. Your numbers depend on your bill, roof, and which path you choose. We run it on your real bill at the consult.
SMUD customers: this page is about PG&E.
SMUD is a community-owned utility. SMUD residential rates are roughly 50% lower than PG&E for the same usage. PG&E rate decisions and the CPUC processes described here do not apply to SMUD. If you are on SMUD, the bigger story for you is the battery rebate up to $10,000.
See the SMUD rebate pageAlso worth reading.
NEM 3.0
Export credits down 75%. Why solar without a battery barely pencils on PG&E now.
Read the explainer →Solar
Custom designed for PG&E homes. Sized from your actual bill, not a template.
See solar →Home Battery
The fix for high-rate evenings on PG&E. Store midday solar, use it at night.
See options →How It Works
$0 down lease or cash. We model both on your bill. No same day pressure.
See both paths →PG&E rate questions
we hear every week.
Why have PG&E rates gone up so much?
Most of the increase is in the delivery portion of your bill, not the generation portion. PG&E has spent billions on wildfire mitigation, including grid hardening, undergrounding, and enhanced power line safety. The CPUC allows PG&E to recover those costs through rates. The 2027 General Rate Case proposes a further 3.5% average annual increase through 2030.
What is the new PG&E Base Services Charge?
Starting March 2026, PG&E added a fixed Base Services Charge of approximately $24 per month to all residential accounts. This is a flat charge regardless of usage. It was paired with a small per-kWh rate reduction, but for high-usage homes the net effect is often still a higher overall bill.
Does solar eliminate my PG&E bill?
Solar significantly reduces the variable usage portion. It does not eliminate the fixed Base Services Charge of approximately $24 per month. With a well-sized solar system and a battery, most homeowners reduce their variable charges close to zero, leaving mainly the fixed monthly charge.
Will PG&E rates keep going up after 2026?
PG&E's 2027 General Rate Case, filed May 2025, proposes a 3.5% average annual rate increase from 2027 through 2030. If approved by the CPUC, rates will continue rising. The wildfire infrastructure investment driving most of the increase is not complete, so further increases are likely through the end of the decade.
Does this apply to SMUD customers?
No. SMUD is a community-owned utility not subject to PG&E rates or CPUC rate decisions. SMUD residential rates are roughly 50% lower than PG&E for the same usage. If you are on SMUD, see the SMUD Rebate page.
See what your bill looks like
with solar and battery.
We model your current bill, your projected bill at 3.5% annual increases, and what solar and battery changes both numbers. Free consult, no obligation.