IMPORTANT

Core Gas Aggregation Service

Buy gas for your home or business from a third-party CTA

Overview

 

Core Gas Aggregation Service (CGAS) is an optional service. CGAS allows customers to buy gas for their home or business directly from third-party gas suppliers. These alternate gas providers are Core Transport Agents (CTAs).

 

What is a CTA?

 

A CTA is a third-party company that a customer can choose to provide the procurement portion of their gas service. CTAs are not affiliated with PG&E. 

 

PG&E will continue to transport and deliver gas to your home or business with the same high level of safety, reliability and service that we provide to all our customers regardless of which gas supplier you choose.

 

Customers aren't required to sign up with a CTA. They can continue to receive natural gas from PG&E. It’s the customer's choice.

 

How does Core Gas Aggregation Service (CGAS) work?

 

Before joining CGAS, an end-use customer, such as a resident or business owner, will need to agree through verbal or written contract to buy natural gas from a CTA other than PG&E.

 

The CTA will procure natural gas for its customers, but PG&E continues to transport the natural gas to the end-use customer. Customers are required to make a minimum 12-month commitment to Core Gas Aggregation Service and purchase natural gas from a CTA, instead of PG&E. CTAs are required to serve a gas-usage pool with a combined usage of at least 120,000 therms per year.

PG&E is mandated to allow Core Transport Agents (CTAs) to operate and offer service. Regardless of whether you continue to buy your natural gas from PG&E or from a CTA, PG&E remains committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas to your home or business. We continue to be your first point of contact for safety issues regarding gas service. CTAs are in charge of marketing their own services.

All core end-use customers are eligible for service with a CTA. These rates include:

  • Residential: G1, GM, GS, GT, GL-1, GML, GSL, GTL
  • Residential NGV: G1-NGV, GL1-NGV
  • Commercial: G-NR1, G-NR2
  • Natural Gas Vehicles: G-NGV1, G-NGV2

No. Due to the way natural gas utilities are regulated, PG&E doesn't profit from the sale of natural gas to its retail customers. PG&E instead makes its regulated profit from delivering gas through its pipeline system, as well as from other sources.

PG&E doesn't assess any 'extra' charges to customers who purchase natural gas from a CTA. Here’s how it works under any of the billing options available to a CTA (e.g., PG&E Consolidated Billing, CTA Consolidated Billing and Separate Billing):

  1. A customer’s bill is calculated as if the customer remained on bundled service with PG&E.
  2. The PG&E procurement (gas) portion of the bill is then subtracted from the bill through a Procurement Credit.
  3. A franchise fee is added to the PG&E portion of the bill.

 Note: The franchise fee is NOT an extra charge for customers buying their gas from a CTA—it's part of the PG&E procurement charge and is collected under Gas Schedule G-SUR to pay franchise fees (roughly 1 percent) on the gas volumes purchased from a CTA. 

If you smell natural gas or suspect an emergency, leave the area now and call 9-1-1. 

Do not call your CTA. PG&E will continue to respond to your safety-related calls, such as gas leaks, and maintain the distribution system leading to your home. We can be reached at 1-800-743-5000.

To find your meter read date, view this PG&E schedule for reading your meter.

CTA general questions

Revised as of January 2025

 Note: Some CTAs may not appear on this list by their own request.

Those marked with an asterisk (*) do not currently serve customer load in a PG&E service area.

 

AAA Energy Services
1-888-377-7757

ABAG Publicly Owned Energy Resources (ABAG POWER)
1-415-820-7956

Agera Energy, LLC
1-844-692-4372

Ambit California, LLC
1-877-282-6248
Big Tree Energy, LLC
1-800-404-1061

Bolt Energy Services, LLC
1-800-213-2870

Calpine Energy Solutions, LLC (Formerly Noble Solutions)
1-877-273-6772

Commercial Energy
1-510-567-2700

Constellation NewEnergy Gas Division, LLC
1-855-465-1244

Interstate Gas Supply, Inc.
1-888-995-0992

Just Energy Solutions Inc. (Formerly Commerce Energy, Inc.)
1-866-587-8674

Mirabito Natural Gas, LLC dba Evergreen Gas & Electric
1-833-547-1563

National Gas & Electric, LLC
1-888-442-0002

North Star Gas Company LLC, d/b/a YEP Energy
1-877-418-5872

NRG Business Marketing, LLC
1-888-925-9115

Pacific Summit Energy, LLC
1-949-777-3218

Peak Six Power and Gas, LLC
1-888-414-9669

Pilot Power Group, LLC
1-855-227-4568

SFE Energy Inc.
1-888-659-2994

Shell Energy North America, (US) L.P.
1-858-210-2682

Smart One Energy LLC
1-888-363-4976

Spark Energy Gas, LP
1-866-288-2874

StateWise Energy California LLC
1-855-862-1185

Tiger Natural Gas, Inc.
1-888-875-6122, extension 4

UET, LLC. dba Callective Energy
1-800-296-2203

UET, LLC. dba Greenwave Energy
1-800-296-2203

Vista Energy
1-888-508-4782

Wave Energy LLC
1-866-802-9283

XOOM Energy California, LLC
1-888-997-8979

 

 Note: Neither Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the California Public Utilities Commission, nor any of their employees recommends, endorses or represents any firm listed herein; makes any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, quality or completeness, or usefulness of this information or the goods or services offered by the companies listed; can or does guarantee the financial stability of or service quality of the service providers listed, or their compliance with applicable laws or regulations, or assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of, this information.

In the past, the CPUC didn’t have jurisdiction to regulate CTAs’ business or marketing activities. Senate Bill (SB) 656, which was signed into law on Oct. 5, 2013, changed this. SB 656:

  • Provides the CPUC with jurisdiction over CTAs
  • Allows the CPUC to adopt new consumer protections for customers served by CTAs

Moving forward, the CPUC will continue to adopt rules addressing SB 656's remaining consumer protection provisions such as:

  • Complaint resolution
  • Consumer information including rate comparisons
  • Permissible CTA marketing activities
  • Minimum CTA service standards

PG&E will continue to require:

  • New CTAs to enter into a service agreement which outlines their obligations and responsibilities
  • All new CTAs to complete a certification process before they are eligible to enroll and serve customers
    • CTAs must meet credit and technical requirements

As of September 2, 2014, all current and new CTAs must register with the CPUC before providing service. The CPUC may suspend or revoke a CTA's registration if it finds that a CTA:

  • Made material misrepresentations while soliciting customers
  • Committed fraud
  • Misrepresented a material fact in obtaining a registration
  • Is not financially viable and technically and operationally capable

In addition, CTAs must, prior to the start of service, provide customers with a written notice describing the price, terms, and conditions of the service. The CPUC will continue developing and updating the regulatory framework to implement all of SB 656's provisions.

 

View the final decision at Order Instituting Rulemaking to Implement Registration of Third Party Natural Gas Procurement Services Providers (PDF)

 

Visit cpuc.org.ca.gov to find out How to Register as a CTA.

A CTA is responsible for ensuring that sufficient gas is delivered daily to PG&E's pipeline system to supply its customers' forecasted usage.

 

As part of PG&E's ongoing service, we’re the backup supplier if your CTA:

  • Fails to arrange for an adequate supply of natural gas
  • Defaults on its obligations
  • Goes out of business

Be sure to carefully review the cancellation process and conditions of any CTA agreement or contract.

  • If a CTA terminates service to you, you’ll be returned to PG&E's bundled service.
    • This means that PG&E will resume buying gas for your home or business.

Your return date to PG&E's bundled service will be determined based on:

  1. When the CTA submits a disconnect enrollment with PG&E
  2. When PG&E accepts the disconnect request
  • If the disconnect request is submitted with more than 15 days to go before the next meter read date:
    • Your service will begin with PG&E on the next meter read date
  • If the disconnect request is submitted with less than 15 days to go before the next meter read date:
    • Your service with PG&E will begin on the following month's meter read date.

The CPUC is developing the dispute resolution process at this time.

 

PG&E suggests that you contact your CTA first. See if you can resolve the issue. If you’re unable to resolve the issue, contact PG&E's Customer Service line for CTA-related questions at 1-877-442-7457.

CTA billing questions

Yes, in most cases. PG&E provides three types of billing options for a CTA:

 

  • PG&E Consolidated Billing. PG&E consolidates its monthly gas distribution and transmission charges and a CTA's gas charges into a single bill
  • CTA Consolidated Billing. A CTA consolidates its monthly charges and PG&E's charges into a single bill
  • Separate Billing. PG&E and a CTA separately bill for their respective monthly charges. You will experience a few days' delay in receiving your monthly bill if your CTA is using PG&E as its biller. However, your payment due date will not be affected by this process.

Access PG&E's bill inserts at pge.com/billinserts.

Customers who join the Core Gas Aggregation Service will see a Procurement Credit under the gas details page on their bill. The Procurement Credit is PG&E's gas commodity cost for that particular month and will vary month to month.

  • Contact PG&E for any questions regarding PG&E's gas delivery and other charges shown on your monthly bill.
  • Contact your CTA for any questions concerning the CTA's monthly gas charges.

Yes. The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) discount is mandated by the State of California and continues for all qualified customers regardless of whether PG&E or a CTA supplies their gas.

 

The CARE discount for the customer’s gas commodity, distribution and transmission charges will continue to appear on the PG&E portion of the bill. The discount would be the same as if the customer remained a bundled customer with PG&E.

Yes. Customers are still eligible for:

  • FERA
  • LIHEAP
  • Any energy efficiency-related rebates and incentives

Medical Baseline discounts are only applied to PG&E's portion of the cost.

PG&E does not assess any 'extra' charges to customers who purchase natural gas from a CTA. Here’s how it works under any of the billing options available to a CTA (e.g., PG&E Consolidated Billing, CTA Consolidated Billing and Separate Billing):

  1. A customer’s bill is calculated as if the customer remained on bundled service with PG&E.
  2. The PG&E procurement (gas) portion of the bill is then subtracted from the bill through a Procurement Credit.
  3. A franchise fee is added to the PG&E portion of the bill.

 Note: The franchise fee is NOT an extra charge for customers buying their gas from a CTA—it's part of the PG&E procurement charge and is collected under Gas Schedule G-SUR to pay franchise fees (roughly 1 percent) on the gas volumes purchased from a CTA.

To join our Core Gas Aggregation Service (CGAS), Core Transport Agent (CTA) applicants must fill out and submit the following documents to PG&E.

 

 Note: Your CTA account manager can provide details on submitting each of the necessary documents

 

Submit the CGAS Agreement

 

To join our Core Gas Aggregation Service, you must fill out and submit the CGAS Agreement and related attachments.

  1. Download all of the required documents to begin CGASVisit Gas Aggregation Service Agreement and Attachments.
  2. Get details on how to become a CTA and continue service with us. This includes details on the set-up process, billing process and continuing service as a CTA (gas nominations). Download Gas CTA Handbook (PDF)
  3. Join Direct Access. Gas CTAs and electric service providers (ESPs) must fill out and submit a form to join Direct Access (DA) with us. Download Energy Service Provider Information (PDF)

 

Get Gas Transmission Service Agreement and exhibit documents

 

Complete the Gas Transmission Service Agreement (PDF).

 

This enables CTAs to receive monthly intrastate distribution services.

 

California Gas Transmission documents

 

CTAs must fill out and submit the credit application and obtain credit approval from us before joining CGAS. Download the California Gas Transmission Credit Application (PDF)

 

At times, CTAs are required to submit certain California Gas Transmission documents such as the:

 

For more information, go to the California Gas Transmission Reference Library.

Electronic Data Interchange documents

EDI Trading Partner Agreement (PDF)

CTAs who offer consolidated CTA billing services must fill out and submit the EDI Trading Partner Agreement. 

Filename
editrade.pdf
Size
43 KB
Format
application/pdf
download

EDI trading partner setup form (PDF)

Fill out the form to set up CTAs for electronic data exchange with PG&E using the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) protocol.

Filename
edi_set.pdf
Size
4 KB
Format
application/pdf
download

Get our meter-reading schedule

Meter readers need monthly access to meters. Check the schedule.

More CGAS resources

Still have questions?

Search the Help Center for more CGAS info.