Urgent Alert
What is Baseline Allowance?
Baseline Allowance is a measure of energy sold at the lowest price. Your baseline allowance is based on:
- Where you live
- Your heating source
- The season (summer or winter)
Baseline Allowance applies to customers on the following rate plans:
- Tiered Rate Plan (E-1)
- Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4 - 9 p.m. Every Day) E-TOU-C
It also applies to those receiving PG&E gas service.
Note: Your plan is listed on page 3 of your energy statement. It is also available in your online account.
- Your baseline allowance resets at the start of every billing cycle.
- Energy used within the allowance amount is billed at the lowest price.
- The prices increases as you:
- Use more energy
- Move beyond the allowance amount during your billing cycle
The amount of energy in your Baseline Allowance is determined by:
- Where you live (your Baseline Territory)
- Your primary heating source
- The season (summer or winter)
Note: Customers with qualifying medical conditions may be eligible for a higher allowance. For more information, visit Medical Baseline.
- Electric baseline quantities went into effect January 1, 2019.
- Gas baseline quantities went into effect on November 1, 2019.
Electric service customers
The rate for usage over your Baseline Allowance is based on your plan:
- Tiered Rate Plan (E-1)
- Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4-9 P.M. Weekdays) E-TOU-B
- Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4-9 P.M. Everyday) E-TOU-C
- Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 5-8 P.M. Weekdays) E-TOU-D
Gas service customers
Gas service customers are billed in a two-tier structure:
- Tier 1 - Baseline usage, billed at your lowest baseline price
- Tier 2 - Gas use beyond your Baseline Allowance, billed at a higher price
Gas customers are billed at the lowest price for all gas usage up to their Baseline Allowance. Any gas usage that exceeds the Baseline Allowance is charged at the (higher) Tier 2 price.
Review how gas charges appear on your monthly statement under Details of Gas Charges:
Find your Baseline Territory and Allowance
- Find your Baseline Territory
- Determine your Baseline Allowance
Your Baseline Territory is listed on your energy statement.
Locate your Baseline Territory under Service Information on page 3 of your bill:
Do you know your Baseline Territory? Now you can find your summer and winter allowances.
Calculate your Baseline Allowance for a billing cycle:
Your daily amount of energy
x
The number of billing days
= Your Baseline Allowance for a billing cycle
Find the daily amount of energy allotted for your Baseline Allowance in the table below.
Find the number of billing days on page 3 of your energy statement. View a sample statement.
Do you want the latest Baseline Allowance information? Review the applicable rate schedule on the Tariffs page.
Note: Based on the average residential gas and electricity use for each territory, the Public Utilities Code requires these specific ranges for baseline allowances.
Baseline Allowance table
Quantities represent total daily kilowatt hours (electricity) or therms (gas).
Legend (electric)
- Summer (S): June 1 - September 30
- Winter (W): October 1 - May 31
Legend (gas)
- Summer (S): April 1 - October 31
- Winter Off-Peak (W Off): November, February, March
- Winter On-Peak (W On): December and January
How the Baseline Allowance is determined for each territory
- The allowance must represent 50 to 60 percent of the electricity needs of the average customer in each territory.
- This is in accordance with the Public Utilities Code.
Allowances are determined as follows
- Between 50-60% of average use in your territory
- Basic-electric customers (no permanently installed electric heat)
- Summer and winter all-electric customers (permanently installed electric heat)
- Gas customers, summer only
- Between 60-70% of average use in your territory
- All-electric and gas customers, winter only
Every three years, Baseline Allowances are:
- Recalculated
- Submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval
They may be adjusted on an annual basis, if necessary.
More on rates
Find your best rate plan
Rate plans to suit a variety of home energy needs.
Energy-related glossary
- Better understand your energy statement.
- Learn common energy-related terms.