Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) serves Northern and Central California — the Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, Central Valley, North Coast, and Sierra Nevada foothills. PG&E's tiered rate structure (E-1) reaches $0.50+/kWh in Tier 2 and beyond, making PG&E customers among the most financially motivated solar buyers in the US.
Key facts for PG&E solar customers:
- PG&E is under CPUC NEM 3.0 — new installations after April 14, 2023 export at ~$0.02–$0.08/kWh. Battery storage is essential.
- PG&E interconnection applications are submitted by your installer through PG&E's portal. Typical timeline: 4–12 weeks.
- PG&E administers the SGIP battery incentive in its territory — up to $1,000/kWh for qualifying customers.
- PG&E's time-of-use (TOU) rates mean electricity costs most (often $0.40–$0.55/kWh) during evening peak hours (4–9 PM). Battery storage charged from solar during the day and discharged during these peak hours delivers maximum value under NEM 3.0.
- PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during wildfire season — battery backup is valued by customers in high fire-risk areas who experience PSPS events.
PG&E rates have increased dramatically over the past decade and are projected to continue rising. Locking in solar + battery production now protects against future rate increases over the system's 25-year life.