The Bay Decoding Your PG&E Bill
Dec 17, 2025
Laura Klivans, a climate reporter for KQED, dives deep into the confusing world of PG&E bills. She reveals that bills have skyrocketed nearly 70% since 2020, attributing rising costs to wildfire mitigation and infrastructure upgrades. Klivans breaks down key components of the bill, highlighting that energy generation is only a small fraction. She also shares insights on time-of-use pricing and offers tips for lowering bills, like running appliances during off-peak hours. This enlightening conversation demystifies an essential aspect of Bay Area living.
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Family Forced To Choose Between Bill And Food
- Kenya Brown faced a $648 PG&E bill and had to choose between paying it and buying food.
- She chose food, illustrating how high bills force painful trade-offs for families.
Most Of Your Bill Isn't Energy Generation
- Only about 25–40% of a bill pays for making energy; the rest covers other costs.
- That explains why reducing usage doesn't always cut bills proportionally.
Shift Usage To Off-Peak Hours
- Use a time-of-use plan to shift high-energy tasks to off-peak hours and save money.
- Run appliances like laundry in off-peak windows to avoid higher peak rates.