Electric system

Learn about the PG&E energy grid

PG&E continues to deliver safe energy directly to you. We deliver this power through our electric system to Northern and Central California. PG&E produces or buys energy from many sources. The sources include conventional and renewable sources. This harnessed power travels through our electric transmissions and distribution systems. This series of systems is called the energy grid.

Discover more details about how energy reaches you. Download current energy grid (PDF, 1 MB).

Understand the Smart Grid

The Smart Grid is a modern electric system that combines advanced communications and controls. It creates a strong and responsive network that delivers your energy.

Transforming the PG&E grid to a Smart Grid can provide you with safer, more reliable, more sustainable and more flexible energy services. The change can improve the energy services you receive, and help you make informed energy decisions.

Find out how the Smart Grid benefits you

The adoption of a Smart Grid is a vital step toward to creating a cleaner California. The Smart Grid helps PG&E reach our goal of reducing our carbon footprint. We believe it is a wise venture for our communities, our economy and our environment.

The Smart Grid can benefit you by:

• Providing information to help you reduce your electricity bill.
• Improving electric reliability.
• Enhancing efficiency in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
• Supporting renewable resources such as wind and solar.

Find out how the Smart Grid balances the PG&E electric system

The electricity you are using right now was made less than a second ago. The amount of electricity put into the grid must always balance the amount of electricity that is being used. The Smart Grid gives grid operators tools to help them better understand the electric demand.

Grid operators can quickly react to rapid changes in consumer demand. The operators can adjust the electricity on the grid to match the demand. Grid operators can also manage power sources with variable generation of electricity. The sources include wind or solar energy.

Smart Grid upgrades can benefit Californians with greater energy reliability. The Smart Grid allows PG&E to gain more energy from renewable sources. This innovation is a win for customers, the environment and all of California.

More information from other Smart Grid leaders

"The Smart Grid will empower consumers to take charge of their energy use and respond to energy waste."

-Nobel Prize winner and former Vice President Al Gore

General Electric GE

• Grid Solutions
• Ecoimagination

IBM

• Smarter Cities
• Smarter energy and utilities

U.S. Department of Energy

• SmartGrid.gov
• Smart Grid