The Base Services Charge is a fixed daily charge on most PG&E residential electric plans since March 2026: about $24 a month for most customers, about $12 with FERA or in deed-restricted affordable housing, and about $6 with CARE, with lower per-kWh prices in exchange. Because most plans carry the same charge, it rarely changes which plan is cheapest.
Rate comparisons show what different plans would have cost for past usage. Rate eligibility and future savings may vary.
Why did PG&E add a Base Services Charge?
California's regulator, the CPUC, required it under a 2022 state law (AB 205), to recover part of the grid's fixed costs through a flat charge and lower the price per kWh. It began on PG&E bills in March 2026. All residential customers pay it, including rooftop solar customers, and no income verification is required.
Source: CPUC AB 205 fact sheet, 2024-05-09; PG&E Base Services Charge, 2026-03-01
How much is it, and how is it billed?
The Base Services Charge is billed per day, so a month's total depends on the number of days in your billing cycle (PG&E tariffs effective 2026-06-01):
- Most customers: $0.79343 a day, about $24 a month.
- FERA or deed-restricted affordable housing: $0.39688 a day, about $12 a month.
- CARE: $0.19713 a day, about $6 a month.
Which plans have it?
All PG&E residential electric plans have it except EV-B (a separately metered EV charger) and the master-metered EM and EM-TOU schedules. That includes E-1, E-TOU-C, E-TOU-D, E-ELEC and EV2-A. Older pages that say only E-ELEC has a fixed charge, or that it is $15, describe the plan before March 2026.
Does it change which rate plan is cheapest?
Rarely. Most plans carry the same charge, so it adds the same amount to each and leaves their ranking unchanged. What changed the ranking in 2026 were the lower per-kWh prices that came with it; the gaps between plans shifted, so last year's best plan may not be this year's.
Why is my PG&E bill so high?
Usually because of when and how much electricity you use, plus charges that don't depend on usage. Summer prices are higher on most plans, 4 to 9 pm is the most expensive time, usage above your baseline costs more, and the Base Services Charge and taxes are fixed. Being on a plan that doesn't fit your hours can add to it.
- Look at your bill line by line.
- Look at when you use electricity.
- Check whether another plan would have cost less.
- Check assistance: CARE (about 35% off electricity) and FERA (18% off electricity), per PG&E's program pages.
Frequently asked questions about the Base Services Charge
Do solar customers pay the Base Services Charge?
Yes. Solar customers pay the same Base Services Charge as everyone else, and PG&E says it cannot be offset by monthly generation credits.
Is the Base Services Charge new on top of my other charges?
The Base Services Charge is new, but per-kWh prices were lowered when it started. Whether your total went up or down depends on how much electricity you use.
When is the California Climate Credit in 2026?
On August and September 2026 bills: $36.18 each on PG&E residential electric bills, per PG&E's tariffs. (The CPUC moved it from April and October in 2026.)
How does WattPayoff help?
WattPayoff shows each charge on your bill and prices your usage on every plan, so you can see whether the fixed charge or the plan is driving your bill. If you have CARE or FERA, turn that setting on in the app and it prices each plan with your discount and your reduced Base Services Charge.
