Budget Billing FAQs

Budget Billing averages your monthly energy costs across the last 12 months to help avoid big spikes on your energy statements. The plan helps your monthly payment amount remain more consistent, even if your energy use changes significantly from season to season.

The benefits of Budget Billing include:

• More predictable monthly energy costs to help you budget expenses 
• Easy, no-cost enrollment 
• Ability to start and end program participation at any time 

Budget Billing is available to qualified residential and small business customers.

With Budget Billing, your gas and electric meters are checked monthly. Your energy statements continue to show your actual energy costs. The difference is that you pay the Budget Billing amount instead of the actual energy costs.

You can view estimated monthly payments even if you’re not enrolled in Budget Billing. Follow these steps to estimate your payments:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Select the Help Me Pay option.
3. Choose the Budget Billing option.

Choose the method that’s easiest for you from the following options.

Enroll through your online account

Follow these steps to enroll in Budget Billing through your online account:

1. Login to your account.
2. Select the Help Me Pay option.
3. Choose the Budget Billing option.

Enroll with the online enrollment form

Complete the online enrollment form. Visit Budget Billing – Enroll. Have your PG&E account number ready. Then, submit your form to PG&E.

Enroll by phone

Enroll in Budget Billing by calling 1-800-743-5000.

The Budget Billing cost structure goes into effect on the next billing cycle after enrollment.

When you are enrolled in Budget Billing, PG&E monitors your account to ensure you are paying a monthly average of what you actually owe throughout the year. Adjustments may be made to your monthly payment amount if your actual energy usage significantly changes over a 12-month period.

Yes, CARE program participants are eligible to enroll in Budget Billing.

Call a PG&E customer service rep at 1-800-743-5000 for answers about Budget Billing.