How Pacific Gas & Electric compares with the utilities next door
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs Pacific Gas & Electric, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock Irrigation District | 16.34 | 80,575 | -23.28 | -$2,514 |
| City of Santa Clara | 16.88 | 50,949 | -22.74 | -$2,456 |
| City of Redding | 17.85 | 38,170 | -21.77 | -$2,351 |
| Sacramento Municipal Util Dist | 17.87 | 592,557 | -21.75 | -$2,349 |
| Imperial Irrigation District | 17.91 | 142,078 | -21.71 | -$2,344 |
| City of Roseville | 18.66 | 63,052 | -20.96 | -$2,264 |
| PacifiCorp | 20.64 | 36,273 | -18.98 | -$2,050 |
| City of Palo Alto | 20.67 | 26,249 | -18.95 | -$2,047 |
| Modesto Irrigation District | 21.78 | 103,650 | -17.84 | -$1,926 |
| City of Lodi | 22.47 | 23,751 | -17.14 | -$1,852 |
| Alameda Municipal Power | 22.98 | 33,174 | -16.64 | -$1,797 |
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (this page) | 39.62 | 1,856,780 | — | — |
17 bundled utilities (≥5,000 customers) share at least one county with Pacific Gas & Electric. Showing the 11 cheapest. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than Pacific Gas & Electric customers at the same usage. Territories are fixed by address — these gaps measure cost differences between areas, not options you can pick between.
Where Pacific Gas & Electric customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | Pacific Gas & Electric premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amador | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Butte | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Calaveras | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Colusa | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Contra Costa | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Glenn | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Humboldt | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
| Lake | Surprise Valley Electrification | 13.14 | +$2,860 |
Multiple utilities in one county means adjoining territories, not household choice — you cannot switch wires companies. Showing the 8 highest-premium counties of 50 served.
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 34.04 | 39.62 | +16.4% |
| Residential customers | 1,832,407 | 1,856,780 | +1.3% |
Ownership: Investor Owned. Including delivery-only/third-party-supply accounts, Pacific Gas & Electric serves 5,047,461 residential customers in CA. Statewide context: California electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a Pacific Gas & Electric bill
California is a regulated retail market — Pacific Gas & Electric customers cannot choose a different supplier; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings. Official information: cpuc.ca.gov.
Counties served (CA, EIA-861 2024)
Alameda · Alpine · Amador · Butte · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · El Dorado · Fresno · Glenn · Humboldt · Kern · Kings · Lake · Lassen · Madera · Marin · Mariposa · Mendocino · Merced · Modoc · Monterey · Napa · Nevada · Placer · Plumas · Sacramento · San Benito · San Bernardino · San Diego · San Francisco · San Joaquin · San Luis Obispo · San Mateo · Santa Barbara · Santa Clara · Santa Cruz · Shasta · Sierra · Siskiyou · Solano · Sonoma · Stanislaus · Sutter · Tehama · Trinity · Tulare · Tuolumne · Yolo · Yuba
Head-to-head comparisons
- Southern California Edison (SCE) vs Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs Sacramento Municipal Util Dist
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs Imperial Irrigation District
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs Modesto Irrigation District
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs Turlock Irrigation District
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs City of Roseville
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. vs City of Santa Clara
Questions people ask
- Is Pacific Gas & Electric Co. more expensive than other California utilities?
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers paid an average 39.62 cents/kWh in 2024 — 36% above the California volume-weighted average of 29.08 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from Pacific Gas & Electric Co.?
- No — distribution territory is fixed by address and California has no residential supplier shopping. Rate changes go through the state utility commission (cpuc.ca.gov).
- How many customers does Pacific Gas & Electric Co. have?
- 1,856,780 residential customers in California in 2024 across 50 counties, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: investor-owned.