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What is the Baseline Allowance?
Baseline Allowance consists of an allotment of energy available at the lowest price, based on where you live, your heating source, and the season (summer or winter).
Determine if Baseline applies to you
Baseline Allowance applies to customers on the Tiered Rate Plan (E-1), the Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4 - 9 p.m. Every Day) E-TOU-C, the Time-of-Use Rate Plan (E-6) and to those receiving PG&E gas service. Your plan is listed on page 3 of your energy statement and also available at your online account.
Learn how Baseline works
The Baseline Allowance resets at the start of every billing cycle. Energy used within the Allowance amount is billed at the lowest price. The price increases as you use more energy and move beyond the Allowance amount during your billing cycle. Learn more below, under “What is the rate for usage over the Baseline Allowance?”
Find your Baseline Allowance
The amount of energy in your Baseline Allowance is determined by where you live (your Baseline Territory), your primary heating source and the season (summer or winter). NOTE: Customers who have qualifying medical conditions may be eligible for a higher allowance through the Medical Baseline program. Visit Medical Baseline Allowance.
Electric baseline quantities went into effect January 1, 2019; gas baseline quantities went into effect on November 1, 2019.
Find your Baseline Allowance
How can you stay within the Baseline Allowance?
Learn ways to conserve energy and save money all year.
Get tips to save energy and costs every day
Learn about and sign up for Energy Alerts
What is the rate for usage over the Baseline Allowance?
Above your Baseline Allowance, the price you’ll pay through the end of the billing cycle is based on your plan:
Tiered Rate Plan (E-1)
Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4 - 9 p.m. Weekdays) E-TOU-B
Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4 - 9 p.m. Every Day) E-TOU-C
Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 5 - 8 p.m. Weekdays) E-TOU-D
Time-of-Use Rate Plan (E-6)
If you're a gas service customer, your usage is billed in a two-tier structure.
Tier 1 - Baseline usage, billed at your lowest baseline price
Tier 2 - Gas use beyond your baseline allowance, billed at a higher price
Gas customers are billed at the lowest price for all gas usage up to their baseline allowance. Any gas usage that exceeds the Baseline Allowance is charged at the (higher) Tier 2 price. Review how gas charges appear on your monthly statement under Details of Gas Charges:
View a sample energy statement
Learn about gas rate options
Find the amount of your Baseline Allowance
Your energy statement lists your Baseline Territory
Regardless of the plan you’re on, you can locate your territory under Service Information on page 3 of your bill:
Once you know your Baseline Territory, you can find your summer and winter allowances in the Baseline Allowance Table.
Baseline Allowance Table
The table below provides the daily amounts of energy allotted for the Baseline Allowance. To get your allowance for a complete billing cycle, follow this formula:
Daily Amount x Number of Billing Days = Your Baseline Allowance for a Billing Cycle
You’ll find the number of billing days on page 3 of your energy statement.
Baseline Allowance Table
About the table
Quantities represent total daily kilowatt hours (electricity) or therms (gas).
- Basic electric means your home doesn’t have a permanently installed electric heating system.
- All electric means your home includes a permanently installed electric heating system.
Legend (Electric)
- Summer (S): June 1 - September 30
- Winter (W): October 1 - May 31
Legend (Gas)
- Summer (S): April 1 - October 31
- Winter Off-Peak (W Off): November, February, March
- Winter On-Peak (W On): December and January
|
Territory
| Basic Electric | All Electric | Residential Gas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
P
|
Summer (S): 13.5 |
Summer (S): 15.2 |
Summer (S): 0.39 |
|
|
Q
|
S: 9.8 |
S: 8.5 |
S: 0.56 |
|
|
R
|
S: 17.7 |
S: 19.9 |
S: 0.36 |
|
|
S
|
S: 15.0 |
S: 17.8 |
S: 0.39 |
|
|
T
|
S: 6.5 |
S: 7.1 |
S: 0.56 |
|
|
V
|
S: 7.1 |
S: 10.4 |
S: 0.59 |
|
|
W
|
S: 19.2 |
S: 22.4 |
S: 0.39 |
|
|
X
|
S: 9.8 |
S: 8.5 |
S: 0.49 |
|
|
Y
|
S: 10.5 |
S: 12.0 |
S: 0.72 |
|
|
Z
|
S: 5.9 |
S: 6.7 |
N/A |
For the latest baseline allowance information, review the applicable rate schedule on the Tariffs Page.
NOTE: Based on the average residential gas and electricity use for each territory, the Public Utilities Code requires these specific ranges for baseline allowances.
How the Baseline Allowance is determined for each territory
In accordance with the Public Utilities Code, the Allowance must represent 50 to 60 percent of the electricity needs of the average customer in each territory. Allowances are determined as follows:
- Between 50 and 60 percent of average use in your territory
Basic-electric customers (no permanently installed electric heat), summer and winter All-electric customers (permanently installed electric heat) and gas customers, summer only - Between 60 and 70 percent of average use in your territory
All-electric and gas customers, winter only
Baseline allowances are recalculated and submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval about every three years. They may be adjusted on an annual basis, if necessary.