IMPORTANT

Electric system

Understand how PG&E delivers your energy

Learn about the PG&E energy grid

 

PG&E continues to deliver safe energy directly to you. We deliver this power through our electric system to Northern and Central California. PG&E produces or buys energy from many sources. The sources include conventional and renewable sources. This harnessed power travels through our electric transmissions and distribution systems. This series of systems is called the energy grid.

 

Discover more details about how energy reaches you. Download current energy grid (PDF, 1 MB).

 

Understand the Smart Grid

 

The Smart Grid is a modern electric system that combines advanced communications and controls. It creates a strong and responsive network that delivers your energy.

Transforming the PG&E grid to a Smart Grid can provide you with safer, more reliable, more sustainable and more flexible energy services. The change can improve the energy services you receive, and help you make informed energy decisions.

Find out how the Smart Grid benefits you

 

The adoption of a Smart Grid is a vital step toward to creating a cleaner California. The Smart Grid helps PG&E reach our goal of reducing our carbon footprint. We believe it is a wise venture for our communities, our economy and our environment.

 

The Smart Grid can benefit you by:

 

  • Providing information to help you reduce your electricity bill.
  • Improving electric reliability.
  • Enhancing efficiency in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
  • Supporting renewable resources such as wind and solar.

 

Find out how the Smart Grid balances the PG&E electric system

 

The electricity you are using right now was made less than a second ago. The amount of electricity put into the grid must always balance the amount of electricity that is being used. The Smart Grid gives grid operators tools to help them better understand the electric demand.

Grid operators can quickly react to rapid changes in consumer demand. The operators can adjust the electricity on the grid to match the demand. Grid operators can also manage power sources with variable generation of electricity. The sources include wind or solar energy.

Smart Grid upgrades can benefit Californians with greater energy reliability. The Smart Grid allows PG&E to gain more energy from renewable sources. This innovation is a win for customers, the environment and all of California.

 

More information from other Smart Grid leaders

"The Smart Grid will empower consumers to take charge of their energy use and respond to energy waste."

-Nobel Prize winner and former Vice President Al Gore

 

General Electric GE

 

IBM

 

U.S. Department of Energy

Download our Smart Grid annual reports:

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2020

Filename
2020-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Download

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2019

Filename
2019-annual-report.pdf
Size
991 KB
Format
application/pdf
Test

PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY SMART GRID ANNUAL REPORT – 2018

Filename
2018-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2017

Filename
2017-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2016

Filename
2016-annual-report.pdf
Size
612 KB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2015

Filename
2015-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2014

Filename
2014-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2013

Filename
2013-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Smart Grid Annual Report – 2012

Filename
2012-annual-report.pdf
Size
1 MB
Format
application/pdf
Test

Additional resources

Discover the SmartMeter™ Program

Learn about SmartMeter™ technology. The program makes new rates possible to save you money and build an energy-efficient future.

Understand our SmartMeter™ pricing plans

Learn about our pricing plans enabled by SmartMeter™ technology.

Discover how the Smart Grid and SmartMeter™ work together

Learn how the Smart Grid and SmartMeter™ are working together to power a brighter future.

View the status of the grid

View charts showing today’s grid status and the role that renewable energy plays.