Key Concepts Explained

1. Solar Tariff (Agreement)

How PG&E counds the credits for the power you send to the grid.

  • NEM 1, NEM 2, and NEM 3

2. Rate Plans

The price of buying power from the grid.

  • E-ELEC, E-TOU-D, E-TOU-C, E-1

3. Discount Programs

Income-qualified assistance.

  • CARE / FERA

Rate Plan Comparison

Here is a breakdown of the available PG&E plans.

Rate PlanEligibilityBest ForStrategic Advantage
E-ELEC
(Home + EV/Battery)
Electrification OR NEM 3.0
The Battery Powerhouse.
NEM 3.0 users and "All-Electric" homes that use massive amounts of total power and have a battery to "shave" the peak.
Lower usage rates across the board in exchange for the $15 ($24) fixed fee. Best for homes using 800+ kWh/mo.
E-TOU-C
(Standard Time-of-Use) (Peak@ Everyday 4-9pm)
Non-Solar OR NEM 1/2
The Frugal Solar Owner.
Small households or NEM 1/2 owners who are very disciplined about energy and stay under their "Baseline" allowance.
The Baseline Credit makes the first ~300kWh of power much cheaper than any other plan.
E-TOU-D
(Peak@ Weekdays 5-8pm)
Non-Solar OR NEM 1/2
The Weekend Warrior.
Large families who are home all day Saturday/Sunday and want a shorter, manageable peak window (5 PM–8 PM).
No Peak on Weekends. You can run the AC and laundry all weekend at off-peak rates.
EV2-A
(EV + Battery)
Electrification Only
The Night Owl Charger.
EV owners who charge purely at night and have enough solar/battery to avoid the expensive evening peak.
Offers some of the lowest overnight rates available, but the evening peak is very expensive.
E-1
(Tiered Rate - Legacy)
Non-Solar OR NEM 1 Grandfathered *
The Non-Solar Saver.
Households with no solar who use very little power and cannot shift their usage away from 4 PM–9 PM.
No "Peak" hours. You pay the same whether you bake a cake at 6 PM or 2 AM.

Important Notes:

  • Grandfathering Warning: If you are on NEM 1 and grandfathered into the E-1 Tiered Rate, you can keep it for 20 years from your original PTO (Permission to Operate) date. However, once you switch off of it to a TOU plan, you cannot switch back (it is a one-way door).
  • "Electrification" Definition: To qualify for "Electrification" rates (like E-ELEC), your home generally requires an Electric Vehicle (EV), Battery Storage, or an Electric Heat Pump system.

E-TOU-D Plan (Default without Solar)

The E-TOU-D plan is a default Time-Of-Use plan for non-solar customers. This calculator uses E-TOU-D rates to estimate your baseline electricity cost without solar. December 2025 rates:

Summer Rates (June 1 – September 30)

Time PeriodRate ($/kWh)
Peak (5-8 PM, Mon-Fri)$0.56
Off-Peak (All other hours)$0.43

Winter Rates (October 1 – May 31)

Time PeriodRate ($/kWh)
Peak (5-8 PM, Mon-Fri)$0.47
Off-Peak (All other hours)$0.43

Note: E-TOU-D rates also include additional charges for transmission, distribution, and public purpose programs. The calculator uses the bundled total rate.

See PG&E E-TOU-D Tariff for complete details.

E-ELEC Plan (Default for Solar)

The E-ELEC plan is the default Time-Of-Use plan for NEM 3.0 (solar) customers. You will be put on this plan when you register for solar under NEM 3.0. Unlike TOU-D, the E-ELEC plan charges the same rate regardless of the day-type or time of day. December 2025 rates used in the calculator:

TierRate
Energy Generation0.34742
Energy Delivery0.11095
Other (Transmission, Public Purpose Programs, etc)0.07998
Total (What you pay for electricity from PG&E)0.53835

See PG&E E-ELEC Tariff for complete details.

ACC Plus Adder

To incentivize customers to sign up early for NEM 3.0, PG&E adds an ACC Plus adder to the rate they pay you for electricity for those who sign up within the first 5 years. The earlier you sign up the higher the adder. You will receive the adder for the next 9 years after registering. For 2026, the adder rate is 3.6¢/kWh if you are considered low income (eligible for CARE and FERA low income programs or are part of a disadvantaged community). It is 0.88¢/kWh for everyone else.

CARE/FERA income limits

Disadvantaged Communities

Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) Rates

Under NEM 3.0, PG&E pays you at one of 576 different avoided cost rates when you export surplus energy to the grid. The rate depends on the month, hour, and whether it's a weekday or weekend. These rates represent PG&E's avoided cost of generating or purchasing that electricity at that specific time.

The rates shown below are the 2026 vintage rates used in this calculator. They include both generation and delivery components:

Note: This shows January weekday rates as an example. The calculator uses all 576 hourly rates (12 months × 24 hours × 2 day types) for accurate calculations. See the calculator's detailed charts for rates in other months.

For complete rate schedules, see PG&E Net Billing Tariff.

CARE & FERA Discounts

Income-qualified households can receive significant discounts on their energy bills through the CARE and FERA programs. These discounts are not rate plans; they are bill overlays. This means they stack on top of whatever rate plan you choose, meaning you can have CARE + E-ELEC or CARE + E-TOU-D etc.

CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy): The "Deep Discount" program for low-income households of any size.

FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance): The "Safety Net" program specifically for larger households (3+ people) that earn slightly too much for CARE but still struggle with bills.

FeatureCAREFERA
Best For...Low-income households of any size (1+ people).Low-to-Middle income families with 3+ people.
March 2026 Fixed Fee$6.00 / mo$12.00 / mo
Your Savings~35% off electric rates + 20% off gas.18% off electric rates (no gas discount).
Household SizeNo minimum (Singles qualify).MUST have 3+ people.
Income Limit (Approx)~$42,300 (1-2 people) to ~$64,300 (4 people)Not Eligible (1-2 people). Starts at ~$53,300 (3 people).

* Income limits are approximate and subject to change. Check the official CPUC CARE/FERA page for the latest eligibility requirements.