Energy FAQ

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) apply to Investor-Owned Utilities regulated by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). If you do not live in California, contact your state’s Public Utilities Commission for information. Please go to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners to find your state’s Public Utilities Commission.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is a state agency created by Constitutional amendment to regulate privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad, rail transit, passenger transportation, and in-state moving companies. The CPUC is responsible for assuring California utility customers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting utility customers from fraud, and promoting the health of California’s economy.

The Commission is comprised of a five-member board with a President. Its members are appointed by the Governor and serve six-year staggered terms. Generally, the board meets twice a month. The CPUC has a staff of approximately 940 employees. CPUC headquarters are in San Francisco with field offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

The Commission is comprised of a five-member board with a President. Its members are appointed by the Governor and serve six-year staggered terms. Commissioners make all policy decisions, usually meeting twice a month to vote on issues noted on a public agenda. Go to the CPUC website for more information.

Have an energy question?

Do you have questions about your consumer rights when it comes to electric or gas services? Are you facing a 48-hour notice or shut off? We may be able to answer some of those questions with these FAQs.

Download our Training Manual for more information.

  • PG&E, SDG&E, SoCal Gas and SoCal Edison can offer customers who cannot pay their bills or are in danger of being shut off a payment plan that will allow you to continue receiving service while paying off your outstanding balance.

    • Call your utility immediately!

    • Ask for a payment plan that you can afford.

    • Alert your utility company if you or someone in your household would face serious health or Safety risks if your service were disconnected. The utility may offer you more flexible payment arrangements.

    Download our Fact Sheet: “How to Avoid Electric or Gas Shut Offs” for more information.

  • Your energy or gas utility can send you a shut off notice and then shut off your service:

    • If you do not pay your bill

    • If you do not follow through on a payment arrangement.

    • If you make a payment with a bad check.

    • If you do not pay a deposit required by your utility.

  • Your utility must send you a notice 15 days before disconnecting your service, send another notice 48 hours before disconnection, and also try to contact you by telephone or in person at least 24 hours before shutting off your service. Utility notice practices vary slightly.

    For more information go to:
    SCE Rule No. 8, Notices
    SoCal Gas Rule No. 9, Discontinuance of Service
    SDG&E, Gas & Electric Rule No. 11, Discontinuance of Service

  • If you are unable to pay your bill on time or in full, contact your utility company as soon as possible and request an extension or payment arrangements.

    You may also ask the utility to refer you to a resource for assistance in paying your bill.

    Utility Contacts:
    PG&E: (866) 743-2273
    SCE: (800) 655-4555
    SoCal Gas: (800) 427-2200
    SDG&E: (800) 411-7343

    Download our fact sheet “Drowning in Your Utility Bills: Getting Help to Pay Bills” for more information.
    Drowning in Utility Bills English
    Drowning in Utility Bills Spanish

  • If your service is disconnected for nonpayment of a bill, you should contact your utility immediately by calling the number on the front of the bill to try and make payment arrangements to restore service. If you do not live in California, these tips may not help you.

  • If you are on Medical Baseline, Life Support, or self-certify to your utility that you have a serious illness or condition that could become life threatening if utility service is disconnected, your utility (PG&E, SCE, SoCal Gas, or SDG&E) must send a utility representative to your home before shutting off your utility service. That visit, which is required no matter what kind of meter you have**, can occur within a few days of when a shut off is scheduled or at the time of disconnection for non-payment. If you are home when the utility representative arrives, you may make a payment during this visit. Utility practices vary regarding the available payment options.

    SDG&E and SoCal Gas will also provide additional notice before disconnecting customers known to be elderly (62 or older) or with a disability, including a 48 hour notice by telephone or visit, and where personal contact cannot be made by telephone or visit, by posting a notice at the customer’s home at least 48 hours prior to disconnection.

    SoCal Gas will additionally send a utility representative to the home of a customer who notifies the utility (before the disconnection notice expires) that she or he is unable to deliver payment in time to avoid the disconnection because of age or disability, so that the representative can collect payment at the customer’s home. The utility may also verify the customer’s need. However, if the Utility company follows all proper steps and the bill cannot be paid, you can be shut off.

    *If you have an analog meter a technician will manually disconnect you. If you have a smart meter you can be remotely disconnected.

  • This program provides an increase in your baseline allowance (the amount of energy that is charged at the lowest possible rate). It is available to customers at any income level. If someone in a household has multiple sclerosis, a life-threatening illness, is a paraplegic, quadriplegic, or requires regular use of life-support equipment, they may qualify for this additional allowance of electricity at the lower rate. Both the customer and their doctor must complete a Medical Baseline Application.

  • You can always ask for an extension if you will not be able to pay your bill by the due date. However, they do not have to grant you one. Contact the company as soon as you know that you will not be able to make a full payment, not just after you get a notice. If a Customer Service Representative refuses to give you a reasonable extension, ask to speak to a supervisor. Some utilities allow customers to request an extension through their website.

  • A utility may require a deposit if you are a new customer, were previously disconnected for non-payment, or for late payment. CARE/FERA customers cannot be charged a deposit for late payment.

  • The utilities can require any residential customers to pay a deposit after being disconnected. Utilities can also require customers who are not on CARE or FERA to pay a deposit for late payment of bills. In either case, the deposit is calculated at twice the average monthly bill.

    For CARE or FERA customers:

    • For deposits equal to or less than $150, customers unable to pay the deposit all at once should ask for up to three months to pay, and

    • For deposits greater than $150, customers unable to pay the deposit all at once should ask for up to six months to pay.

  • For electric and gas utilities, the deposit cannot exceed two times the average monthly bill for residential and small business service. For CARE/FERA customers the utility should provide 3 to 6 months to pay depending on the size of the deposit.

  • Most utilities will hold your deposit until you have established credit by paying bills on time for 12 consecutive months.

  • After you’ve been shut off: The company will ask you to pay anything due on your account before reestablishing service. You may be able to set up a payment plan. After removing the balance from your account, you will probably be asked for a deposit to reestablish credit with the company. You may also be charged for the reconnection.

    After moving: If you already have an account, you can transfer service to a new location by calling your utility or on your utility’s website.

  • The CPUC allows all residential customers to sign up for natural gas service directly from a non-utility gas supplier. If a company offering to save you money on your gas bill has contacted you, call your energy company and ask where you can find their historical monthly gas procurement’ rates, and gas price forecasts for the next year.

    Download our Fact Sheet: “Tips For Careful Consumers” for more information.

  • Always contact the utility and try to resolve the problem with them. If you believe your bill is incorrect, contact your utility’s customer service office immediately at the telephone number printed on the front of your bill. If you are not satisfied with the company’s response, file a complaint with the CPUC’s Consumer Affairs Branch. In order to keep service on during the investigation, you may deposit the amount in dispute with the Commission.

  • This varies from case to case. Generally, if there is an indication that you “benefited” from the utility service you can be held responsible for the bill. For example, if you share a home with another adult, each of you may be held liable for the bill, regardless of whose name the bill is under. Additionally, if you cosigned for a property you can be held responsible for the bill even if you did not live there. Contact the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch if you’re unsatisfied with the utility’s position.

    You can also go to your utilities website and review the “tariffs” or rules for more information:

  • The baseline rate (or Tier 1 rate) is the first and lowest rate that is charged for a specified amount of electricity or natural gas used during the billing period, the so-called “baseline quantity.” Baseline quantities are set for the summer and the winter seasons, and differ based on locations (“baseline territories”) to account for climate differences in the large areas covered by California utilities. The California Public Utilities Code specifically requires that baseline quantities fall between 50 and 60% of average use for electric and gas customers in both the summer and winter, except that the baseline quantity for gas customers and all-electric customers must be set between 60 to 70% of average use during the winter heating season. Your climate zone can be found on your bill. The CPUC reviews baseline quantities every 3-4 years. The Commission holds public participation hearings to give consumers the opportunity to voice their concerns. Notifications of public hearings are included with billing inserts. TURN members are notified of upcoming opportunities for public participation. Non-members should check our website for updates on opportunities to make your voice heard.

  • here are different programs you can look into.

    If you need assistance in paying your energy bill, there are a number of places you can turn. First, contact your utility company to find out about their programs. Some utilities have shareholder-funded emergency payment assistance programs for their customers. These can provide cash assistance to help offset the costs of heating and cooling their homes. There are also other plans that may be of assistance to you in managing your energy bills, such as balanced payment plans.

    Download our Fact Sheet: “Getting Help To Pay Bills” for more information.

    The California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) gives low-income customers a discount of 30-35% on their electric bill and a 20% discount on their natural gas bill. This applies to customers of Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Southern California Gas Company. To request an application form and more information, contact your utility company or go to their website.

    Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA) provides a 12% discount on electric bills to families with three or more people whose household income slightly exceeds the CARE allowances. FERA is available for customers of SCE, SDG&E and PG&E.

    The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help you. LIHEAP provides financial assistance to eligible households to offset the costs of heating and/or cooling dwellings. For more information, call 1-866-675-6623.

    Download our fact sheet “Struggling Utility Bills” for more information.
    Struggling Utility Bills English
    Struggling Utility Bills Spanish

  • Yes, you should be able to ask the company to change when you receive bills. Many people find that their billing cycle is not aligned correctly with when they receive their pay checks or other bills. Companies can send bills any day of the month. Call the company and ask them to change when you receive your bill. Do this before you get a shut off notice!

  • PG&E and SCE will credit $30 to your account for a missed appointment unless certain exceptions apply. SoCal Gas will waive its service appointment charge if they miss the first appointment unless certain exceptions apply.

  • The Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP) provides no-cost energy-saving home improvements, including appliances, and in some cases, furnace and water heater repair or replacement, for low-income households who meet the CARE guidelines. Energy-saving home improvements may include attic insulation, weather-stripping, caulking, low-flow shower-heads, water heater blankets, door and building envelope repairs, energy efficient lighting, refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, and high-efficiency clothes washers, among other services. Renters and homeowners are eligible to participate in ESAP. To request an application form and more information, please contact your energy utility company.

    The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free weatherization services to low income utility customers to improve the energy efficiency of homes, including attic insulation, weather stripping, minor housing repairs, and related energy conservation measures. For more information, call (866) 675-6623.

    You can also lower your energy bills by installing energy efficient appliances, many of which are eligible for rebates from the utilities. Check your utility’s website for information about rebates and other energy efficiency resources.

  • Customers can choose to Opt-Out for a $75 upfront fee and a $10 per month charge that lasts for 3 years. Low-income CARE/FERA customers will be charged $10 to Opt-Out and $5 per month. Opt-Out customers will receive the traditional analog utility meter.

    TURN opposed the entire SmartMeter™ program because of its high cost and speculative, unproven benefits.

  • We can’t say that your PG&E bills will change simply because you get a SmartMeter™, but we do encourage SmartMeter™ customers to review their bills every month. If your usage remains the same, as it was when you had an analog meter, then your SmartMeter™ is operating properly.

  • Pursuant to a CPUC ruling, opt-out customers’ analog meters are read every other month. During months when meters are not read, customers will receive an estimated bill.

  • Gas meters transmit information generally once a day to the gas utility through a wireless communications network. Electric meters collect data in hourly increments and transmit the information wirelessly to the utility.

  • Is the increase a significant one (such as an increase of 25% over the same time period last year)? Has your usage or the number of people in your home stayed the same? Are all your appliances working properly? If you answered yes to any of these questions, contact your utility company and ask them to have someone come out to check the meter. Ask them to make sure that the meter is correctly installed and if you live in an apartment or housing complex, ask them to make sure that the meter is connected to your residence only.

  • PG&E customers can go to the PG&E website to view the meter-reading schedule (Please note that PG&E also states that the date may shift to an earlier or later date, due to business considerations.) SCE posts a meter reading calendar on their website. Contact SCE for information.

    SoCal Gas and SDG&E list the date your meter will be read on your bill. The date of your next meter read is located next to your meter number above the description of charges on your bill. If you have an obstacle (gate, dog, etc.) that prevents technicians from easily accessing your meter, the company will inform you before they plan on reading your meter so you can give them access.

  • Call the utility immediately to report downed power lines or gas leaks. Keep yourself, others, and pets away from the area. For unresolved safety concerns, please contact the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Branch at (800) 649-7570.

  • In most cases there are multiple rates available for electric service. Most companies offer standard tiered rates and time-of-use plans, plus rates designed for customers with rooftop solar or an electric vehicle, among other options. Check with your utility to see what rates are available for you. If you can create an online account through your utility’s website, you can compare your bills under different potential rates to select the one best for you. Generally, there is only one gas rate available for residential customers but be sure to check with your utility to confirm.