Core gas aggregation FAQs

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, and continue to be your first point of contact for safety issues regarding gas service. CTAs are in charge of marketing their own services.

CTAs are not affiliated with PG&E. A CTA is a third party supplier other than PG&E who procures gas for end use customers.

In the past, the CPUC did not have jurisdiction to regulate CTAs’ business or marketing activities. This will change as a result of Senate Bill (SB) 656, signed into law on October 5, 2013, which provides the CPUC with jurisdiction over CTAs, and 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 and minimum CTA service standards. In addition, PG&E will continue to require new CTAs to enter into a service agreement which outlines their obligations and responsibilities. PG&E will continue requiring all new CTAs to complete a certification process, which entails meeting credit and technical requirements, before they are eligible to enroll and serve customers.

As of September 2, 2014, all current and new CTAs will be required to 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 in the course of soliciting customers, committed fraud, misrepresented a material fact in obtaining a registration, or if the CPUC finds there is evidence a CTA 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.

• To view the final decision, download the Order Instituting Rulemaking to Implement Registration of Third Party Natural Gas Procurement Services Providers (PDF, 593).
• To learn more about becoming a CTA, visit How to Register as a CTA.

Before joining Core Gas Aggregation Service, 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 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. And CTAs are required to serve a gas usage pool with a combined usage of at least 120,000 therms per year.

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

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 are the backup supplier in the event your CTA fails to arrange for an adequate supply of natural gas, defaults on its obligations or goes out of business.

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

1. PG&E Consolidated Billing where PG&E consolidates its monthly gas distribution and transmission charges and a CTA's gas charges into a single bill
2. CTA Consolidated Billing where a CTA consolidates its monthly charges and PG&E's charges into a single bill
3. Separate Billing where 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.

You can access PG&E's bill inserts at pge.com/billinserts.

Customers who elect to 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 and the discount would be the same as if the customer remained a bundled customer with PG&E.

Yes. Customers are still eligible for the programs mentioned above.

For customers who are applying for medical baselines, these discounts are only applied on PG&E's portion of cost.

No. Due to the way natural gas utilities are regulated, PG&E does not make a 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 does not assess any 'extra' charges to customers who purchase natural gas from a CTA. Under any of the billing options available to a CTA (e.g., PG&E Consolidated Billing, CTA Consolidated Billing, and Separate Billing), a customer’s bill is first calculated as if the customer remained on bundled service with PG&E. The PG&E procurement (gas) portion of the bill is then subtracted from the bill through a Procurement Credit. Finally, a franchise fee is added to the PG&E portion of the bill. Please note that the franchise fee is NOT an extra charge for customers buying their gas from a CTA—it is 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.

You should continue to call PG&E in case of any emergency involving gas service to your home or business. We will also 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.

Be sure to carefully review the agreement or contract you enter into with your CTA which outlines the cancellation process and conditions. If a CTA terminates service to you, you will be returned to PG&E's bundled service which 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 the meter read cycle. If a CTA submits a disconnect enrollment with PG&E and PG&E accepts the disconnect request 15 days before the next meter read date then your service will begin with PG&E on the next meter read date. If the disconnect request is submitted less than 15 days of the next meter read date, then your service with PG&E will begin on the next month's meter read date.

Please visit View the PG&E schedule for reading your meter.

The dispute resolution process is currently being developed by the CPUC. PG&E suggests that you contact your CTA first to see if you can resolve the issue. If you are unable to resolve the issue, you may contact PG&E's Customer Service line for CTA related questions at 1-877-442-7457.