Time-of-use rate plans for your business
Maximize your savings with time-of-use rates
Time-of-use rate plans can help you save money because they offer lower energy rates when energy demand is low. Conversely, rates increase when demand is high. You can reduce your expenses by shifting your energy use to partial-peak or off-peak hours of the day, when rates are lower.
Because the growth in renewable energy has shifted peak demand time from afternoons to evenings, peak hours are changing.
New peak hours: 4-9 p.m. every day, starting March 2021
Current peak hours: Noon-6 p.m.
New commercial rate plans have a new super off-peak period, when prices will be at their lowest, during spring months.
- 9 a.m.–2 p.m. every day, from March through May
There are also partial-peak periods during summer months only. Now the summer rates last for just four months, instead of six.
- 2-4 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. every day, June through September
Additionally, a Business Low Use Alternative rate plan is available for businesses who have some flexibility to adjust their energy use throughout the day. This rate option does not have a partial-peak period.
To learn more, visit pge.com/rateanalysis.
New peak hours: 5-8 p.m. every day, starting March 2021 (for most customers)
Current peak hours: Noon-6 p.m.
Agriculture rate plans feature a June through September summer season, with no super off-peak or partial-peak periods.
There are also three pre-defined flex rate options available if you can limit your operating hours to certain days of the week.
- Option 1: Off-peak days are Wednesday and Thursday
- Option 2: Off-peak days are Saturday and Sunday
- Option 3: Off-peak days are Monday and Friday
PG&E offers two electric vehicle rate plans for business customers with on-site EV charging. These rates are specifically designed for customers with separately metered EV charging at locations such as workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, and retail as well as sites with fleets and fast charging stations.
Business EV rate plans have a peak period designed to reduce usage on the electric grid when demand is highest.
- 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. every day, year-round
There are partial-peak periods for part of the afternoon and a large portion of the evening and morning hours.
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. - 9 a.m. every day, year-round
There is also an even more affordable super off-peak period when prices will be at their lowest.
- 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. every day, year-round
These time-of-use periods support California's renewable initiatives to promote energy usage when solar energy is most plentiful.
To learn more, visit Business EV rate plans.
Ready to get started now?
If you look at the new rate plans and see one that fits your business, you can enroll early.
- Commercial customers can enroll beginning in November 2019.
- Agriculture customers: New rate plans are expected to be available for voluntary enrollment in March 2020.
Commercial customers: Visit your online account where you can get full details on all your rate plan options.
Compare rate plans
Supporting the state's ongoing commitment to clean energy
California is working towards creating a cleaner and more reliable energy grid by encouraging energy usage when demand is lower and renewable energy is more plentiful—while balancing the need to keep customer rates affordable.
Time-of-use rate plans are one of the best ways to do this. That’s why they’ve been adopted by most electricity providers in the state. Most business customers across California have already been on time-of-use rate plans for several years.
With a time-of-use rate plan, the cost of electricity varies based on the time of day and season in which it is used.
PG&E does not make more money as a result of changes in the time-of-use hours. In fact, PG&E does not make more money when our customers use more gas or electricity. The amount of money PG&E makes is subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
We have several rate options to choose from — and tools to help you save
PG&E offers a variety of rate plans, so you can select the option that best fits your business needs. We also have an array of tools you can use to get the most value out of the new rate plans and save energy and money.
Online Rate Analysis
See what's available and how the different rate plans work. View your personalized rate analysis and decide what rate plan would be the best rate plan for your business.
Business Energy Savings Tool
Track your energy use, get energy-saving ideas and create an Energy Savings Plan.
Time-of-Use FAQs
Why does my time-of-use rate vary?
Time-of-use rate plans better align the price of energy with the cost of energy at the time it is produced. Lower rates during partial-peak and off-peak hours offer an incentive for customers to shift energy use away from more expensive peak hours, which can help you save money and reduce strain on the electric grid.
Because the growth in renewable energy has shifted peak demand time from afternoons to evenings, peak hours are changing. See sections below for full details.
How can I save money on a time-of-use rate plan?
On a time-of-use rate, you can lower your bill by shifting when you use energy to partial-peak and off-peak hours. Rates during partial-peak and off-peak hours of the day are lower than rates during on-peak hours. This puts you in the driver's seat so you can have more control over your bills. PG&E can help you identify ways to shift energy use away from peak hours and conserve energy in your business with rebates for making energy efficiency upgrades.
How many rate periods are there?
The new time-of-use rate structure has two different rates periods for agriculture and four different rate periods for commercial users.
Agriculture rates:
- Peak - Higher energy cost
- Off-peak - Lower energy cost
Commercial rates:
- Peak - Higher energy cost
- Partial Peak - Medium energy cost
- Off-peak - Lower energy cost
- Super off-peak – Lowest energy cost
What are the expected rate period changes?
Beginning in March 2021, businesses will be moving to new time-of-use rate plans with later peak hours. The new on-peak hours, when rates will be higher, will be 4-9 p.m. every day of the year. In addition, these new rate plans will only have partial-peak periods during summer months (2-4 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. every day, June through September), and a super off-peak period, when prices will be lower, during spring months (9 a.m. – 2 p.m. every day, March through May). Businesses will have the option to enroll early in these new rate plans beginning in late 2019.
Beginning in March 2021, agriculture customers will be transitioning to rate plans that have a June through September summer season with on-peak hours from 5-8 p.m. on some or all days of the week. These plans will have no super off-peak or partial-peak periods. Agriculture customers can choose to enroll early starting in March 2020.
Where can I compare rate plans and can I switch to a different rate plan?
You can change to any other time-of-use rate plan up to once a year. Commercial customers can choose to enroll in one of the time-of-use rate plans early; beginning November 2019. Agriculture customers will be able to choose in one of the time-of-use rate plans early; beginning March 2020. To compare available rate options and select a different rate plan, log in to your PG&E online account.
Who do I contact if I have a question about my bill?
Call our Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743 to speak to a PG&E Representative about bill inquiries. Our staff can help you navigate your new bill or connect you with a Customer Relationship Manager who can walk you through an energy survey over the phone. They can see if your business might qualify for potential rebates and other savings programs. Plus, you can also schedule a free, comprehensive facility assessment.
Frequently asked questions about Demand Charges
What is the Demand Charge on my bill?
To help keep the supply of electricity reliable in California, some time-of-use rate plans, like A10 Time-of-Use, include a Demand Charge to encourage businesses to spread their electricity use throughout the day. This Demand Charge is calculated by using the 15-minute interval during each billing month when your business uses its maximum amount of electricity. As a benefit to this type of rate plan, regular electricity usage charges are approximately 30% lower than for a comparable rate plan without a Demand Charge--giving you the opportunity to save on your bill if you can lower your highest usage 15-minute interval.
Why does my Demand Charge vary from month to month?
The Demand Charge reflects the maximum amount of electricity you used during any 15-minute interval over the course of a billing period, and can vary depending how and when you use your equipment from month to month. One way to lower your monthly Demand Charge is to stagger times at which you use equipment, rather than using all your equipment at the same time, thereby minimizing spikes in your electricity use. Depending on your business type, it may be possible spread your electricity use throughout the day to lower your Demand Charge.
More information to help you make smart energy decisions
It's easy to go green with Solar Choice
With PG&E's Solar Choice and Regional Renewable Choice programs, you have the option to purchase up to 100% of your electricity from solar power generated within California, without needing to install your own rooftop solar panels.
Learn moreBattery Storage with Net Energy Metering (NEM2)
PG&E's NEM2 program, when paired with battery storage, provides a way to optimize energy by storing power to use later. It's a great way to get the most out of your investment in renewable energy.
Learn moreFor a limited period of years, qualifying solar customers will be eligible for "Grandfathered" rates which retain their legacy TOU hours and seasons. This will help preserve the economics of the original decision to go solar.
Learn more
Download: Time-of-Use for Your Business
Everything you need to know in a format that can be easily emailed.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Repertory Theatre – Berkeley, CA
"I recommend other businesses to compare PG&E rate plans annually via their online account and make sure they are on the right rate structure in line with their operations."
Audio description and transcript are available for this video:
Access an audio descriptive version
Download a transcript (PDF, 72 KB)
Find out what this means for you if you're a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customer
The CCA program allows cities and counties to purchase or generate their own electricity, while using PG&E's transmission and distribution system and other services. This may enable additional power resource options in your area.
Contact Us
Contact us if you have questions about new rates, energy assessments or our programs:
- Business customers, call 1-800-468-4743, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Commercial customers can visit their online account to get full details on rate plan options