PG&E SmartRate™

Giving you the power to manage your summer electric bills

Visit your account to sign up for SmartRate savings.

SmartRate basics

Looking for ways to manage your summer energy bill?

When you're on the SmartRate program, you pay a reduced rate in exchange for minimizing your electricity usage up to 15 days a year. Lower your usage and help conserve California’s energy resources.

 

SmartRate is voluntary and you can cancel at any time. SmartRate is also risk-free and backed by our Bill Protection guarantee. Read more in our FAQs below.

 

Find out if SmartRate is right for you

SmartRate frequently asked questions

Discover how the SmartRate program works and how you can save.

Quick question? Find answers in the Help Center.

SmartDay™ forecast

The forecast averages the temperatures in PG&E's territory. It shows the chances of a SmartDay Event. The trigger temperature is currently set at 98°.

 

Review the SmartRate tips below to learn how to practice many of the great energy savings efforts for a SmartDay.

 

Contact us

Call 1-866-743-0263 for more information.

Monday

January 20

62º

Event Unlikely

Tuesday

January 21

61º

Event Unlikely

Wednesday

January 22

63º

Event Unlikely

Thursday

January 23

65º

Event Unlikely

Friday

January 24

64º

Event Unlikely

SmartDay guidelines

PG&E calls SmartDays on especially hot days when the demand for electricity can reach an extreme level.

  • No more than 15 SmartDays are called each year. SmartDays may be called on weekends or holidays, if electricity demand peaks.
  • A courtesy SmartDay notification may be sent by email and/or text the day before a SmartDay. Learn more about how to update your notification preferences below.
    • PG&E does not guarantee the receipt of notification by the notification, telecommunications system, the email system or internet site by which the customer receives notification. It is the customer’s responsibility to check the PG&E website to see if a SmartDay event has been activated.
  • Shift or reduce your electricity use from 4-9 p.m., when SmartDays are called.

SmartDay events

2024 SmartDay events

  • Wednesday, June 5, 2024
  • Tuesday, July 2, 2024
  • Wednesday, July 3, 2024
  • Saturday, July 6, 2024
  • Wednesday, July 10, 2024
  • Thursday, July 11, 2024
  • Tuesday, July 23, 2024
  • Wednesday, September 4, 2024
  • Thursday, September 5, 2024

 

SmartDay events from previous years

SmartDay tips

Discover simple ways to use less electricity

Small changes in your routine, such as shifting power-hungry activities to the morning or evening can help ease the load on California's power grid. Knowing what to do on a SmartDay is the easiest way to save money on the SmartRate.

 

Ways to reduce your electricity consumption on SmartDays and other days of the year:

  • Pre-cool your home. Allow cool air from the morning or night to flow into your home. As the temperature rises outside, circulate the pre-cooled air with a fan.
  • Shift your chores. Perform household chores that require power-hungry appliances before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. Examples include clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps and vacuums.
  • Program your air conditioner (AC). Set the AC to turn on at 9 p.m. or later, if you use a programmable thermostat.
  • Reduce non-essential lighting. Reduce or turn off lighting in non-essential areas. Consider a motion sensor in areas you use less often.

To learn more about SmartRate, download our SmartRate Welcome brochure (PDF) for program information and a list of ways you can reduce your electricity usage.

SmartDay notifications

Update how you're notified of SmartDay events

If you're enrolled in the SmartRate program, you can change how PG&E notifies you of SmartDays. You can receive up to four courtesy notifications to help everyone in your household shift or reduce energy use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on SmartDays.

 

Select email and/or text message

It's easy to change how you want us to communicate with you and up to three other people. You can update your preferences by logging into your online PG&E account or filling out the online form below.

More about rates

Tiered Rate Plan

The Tiered Rate Plan (E-1) has two pricing levels, known as “tiers,” which are based on how much energy you use.

What is the Baseline Allowance?

Energy used within the Baseline Allowance will be billed at the lowest price. If you pass your Allowance in a given billing cycle, the price will go up.

Energy-related words and definitions

Learn typical energy-related terms to help you better understand your energy statement.