Security deposit options

Pay your deposit after receiving your first bill. You can pay online with your bank account or credit card, by mail, or in person at a payment center with check or cash. Your deposit will accrue interest at the three-month commercial paper rate as published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release, H-15.

You can schedule a payment arrangement online after receiving your first bill, to spread payment of your deposit over several months. You can also call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743 to make a payment arrangement.

To be eligible for the In Lieu of Deposit program, you must:

• Be a new PG&E customer with a deposit amount of less than or equal to $10,000.
• Enroll before the third billing statement is generated for your account.
• Maintain recurring payments and paperless billing on your account for 12 billing cycles.
• Be aware that if a recurring payment fails or the monthly balance is not paid in full, or your account is unenrolled from recurring payments or paperless billing, the deposit will be reapplied to your account.
• All commercial rates are eligible except: B12, B20, E19, and E20.

If you’d like to have your deposit waived though the In Lieu of Deposit program, complete these steps in order.

1. Register or sign into your PG&E online.
2. Enroll in paperless billing.
3. If you have been billed for energy charges, make a one-time payment through your online account: Sign in, select "Make a Payment" and enter your bank account information. Pay your full energy charges only. Do not pay the deposit amount listed on your bill.
4. Set up recurring payments using your checking or savings account only and select "pay full amount due". Recurring payments by credit or debit card does not satisfy program requirements.
5. If you have a deposit on your first statement, please contact 1-800-468-4743 to have it waived.

Obtain a bond from your insurance company for the amount of the deposit request and list PG&E as the sole beneficiary. Complete the Surety Bond form (PDF, 76 KB) and email copies of the form and the Surety bond to PG&E. PG&E will notify you once the form is accepted, and request that you mail the original documents to

Pacific Gas and Electric Company
ATTN: Bond Desk
P. O. Box 8329
Stockton, CA 95208-0010.

Have your banking institution complete and indicate that it will fully guaranty any bill that is submitted for payment without prejudice or question. Please contact our Credit Department for the required form.

This must be signed by a guarantor who assumes all financial responsibility for the specified guaranteed amount in the event the customer fails to pay the closing bill. The guarantor must be an established commercial customer with 12 consecutive months of service, no more than two late payments and the average monthly billings equal to at least 50 percent of the amount to be guaranteed. If you are interested in this option, have your guarantor contact the Credit Department to verify that they meet the above guidelines prior to requesting the required form.