How PG&E’s Simple Tools Can Help Keep the Family Budget on Track

When I opened our electric bill last month, I audibly groaned. Honestly? Our energy costs have been all over the place this year. Between keeping the house comfortable and our two girls leaving lights on in every room, I never know what to expect. How do you even control electricity use with kids who think light switches only work one way?

So instead of paying and forgetting about it until next month, I decided to figure out what tools PG&E offers and see if they can help.

In my search, I found three game-changers that have totally transformed how I manage our energy costs. And the best part? They’re simple enough that anyone can use them, including those of us who aren’t too tech-savvy.

PG&E’s My Account Dashboard: A real-time look at our energy habits

The first thing I started checking regularly was our daily usage on PG&E’s My Account Dashboard. As soon as you log in to your account, it shows you exactly how much energy you use each day in a simple view. To get the most accurate reading, I’ve been checking it a few times a week, usually while waiting in the school pickup line.

One Saturday, I saw a massive spike. At first, I couldn't figure out what had happened! Then I realized that both girls were home with friends with the AC blasting. It all added up. Without PG&E’s My Account Dashboard, I would’ve never known how to take control of our usage. Checking became a habit, and it’s actually helped us change our habits. When I see a high usage day, I know exactly why. When I see a lower one, I feel like we’re doing something right.

There’s also a free program called HomeIntel that offers personalized insights based on your energy usage and access to energy coaches for expert guidance on how to save more. Knowing these resources are available if I want a deeper look gives me even more peace of mind.

PG&E is also actively working to keep rates as stable as possible, even while upgrading the grid and reducing wildfire risks. In the meantime, I’m doing my part to make things easier, even when my family’s habits can be unpredictable.

Bill Forecast Alerts and Match My Payment: No more bill surprises

The second tool that really changed things for me is Usage Alerts. I can set a monthly threshold and get a notification from PG&E if my bill is projected to go over it. The flexibility of getting alerts via text, without having to log in anywhere, changes everything. Whether grocery shopping, running errands, or bringing the kids to school, I can get real-time alerts straight to my phone.

I used to cross my fingers every month and hope for a decent bill. Now, I know what’s happening before the bill shows up, and I have time to take action. And in the case that I ever can’t make a full payment, there’s relief with the Match My Payment program. If I’m eligible, every dollar I pay, up to $1,000, is matched toward my past due balance. That means when things get tight, I know I have real options to stay on track.

Making payments work for us

Every winter, our usage creeps up. We’re running the heat, meaning costs typically increase when the weather gets cooler. PG&E programs like Budget Billing are free and let you make steady payments throughout the year. This helps with those seasonal bill spikes that used to turn our monthly budget upside down. We went from dreading the bill to actually being able to plan for it. I’ve found myself thinking, “Why didn’t we use this earlier?”

My kids will always leave lights on like we own the electric company, but now I have tools that help me stay on top of our bills instead of stressing over them.

Feeling more in control

What I appreciate most is knowing that PG&E is actively working on keeping energy affordable in the long term, not just right now. Checking my daily usage, getting alerts, and having flexible billing options gave me more flexibility and control over my energy costs. Between rate stabilization efforts and these practical tools, energy bills are one less thing I need to worry about.

Learn more about Budget Billing.

About the author

Raymin Reyes is a mom of three girls from Lincoln, who works to support and uplift fellow mothers and families. She shares easy family-friendly recipes, clever parenting hacks with a dose of humor to help fellow moms find balance, joy, and community in the chaos of everyday life.