Side by side (CA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | Sacramento Municipal Util Dist |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 39.62 | 17.87 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 34.04 | 16.89 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $4,279 | $1,930 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,856,780 | 592,557 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Public district |
| Counties served in CA | 50 | 2 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. · Sacramento Municipal Util Dist · California overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Placer · Sacramento counties (CA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Sacramento Municipal Util Dist do not compete for the same meters. California is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (cpuc.ca.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cheaper than Sacramento Municipal Util Dist?
- No — in 2024 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers averaged 39.62 cents/kWh versus 17.87 for Sacramento Municipal Util Dist (EIA-861). Sacramento Municipal Util Dist was cheaper by 21.75 cents, about $2,349 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to Sacramento Municipal Util Dist?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. California has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Pacific Gas & Electric Co. more expensive than Sacramento Municipal Util Dist?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Pacific Gas & Electric and Sacramento Municipal Util Dist territory all feed the 21.75-cent gap.