Understanding Your Electric Bill

While MCE sources the energy you use behind the scenes, you’ll still get your normal PG&E bill.

While MCE sources the energy you use behind the scenes, you’ll still get your normal PG&E bill.

Same Bill. Affordable Rates. Cleaner Energy.

We work with PG&E to make your bill as simple and transparent as possible. Because PG&E and MCE are working together to provide your electric service, your bill will include charges from both PG&E and MCE. MCE’s generation rates simply replace PG&E’s generation rates; they are not an added fee.

Here are a few things you should know:

  • PG&E will no longer charge you for electric generation, since MCE now procures your energy from 60% or 100% renewable sources, depending on your service choice. There will never be any duplicate charges.
  • PG&E will continue to charge for electric delivery, which is the transmission and delivery of your electricity, as well as required regulatory and program charges.

Bill Sample

sample bill showing customer account number location, PG&E electric delivery and MCE electric generation line times

1  Account Number
Your PG&E–assigned number identifies your account. Please have the first 10 digits on hand if you call to enroll in MCE’s Deep Green or Local Sol service options, or if you opt out.

2  PG&E Electric Delivery Charges
PG&E’s charge for the delivery of electricity. It includes the cost of moving energy from the grid to your home or business and maintaining the electric lines so that you have reliable service, rain or shine!

3  MCE Electric Generation Charge
MCE’s charge for the generation of electricity. It includes the cost of electricity to match your home or business energy needs. It replaces a fee that PG&E would collect if they were providing your generation service. This is not an additional charge.

sample bill showing breakdown of customer electric charges

4  Your Electric Charges Breakdown
This provides a detailed summary of fees for PG&E’s Electric Delivery Charges.

sample bill showing customer tier indicator, generation credit, power charge indifference adjustment, franchise fee surcharge

5  Rate Schedule
With Time–of–Use (TOU) rate plans, the cost of electricity is based on when you use it. The rate shown here is more expensive between 4–9 p.m. (Peak) and cheaper all other times (Off Peak) as shown in the “Energy Charges” below. You can switch to another rate plan at any time.

6  Baseline Credit
Your rate plan may include a baseline credit, which is a discount on the per kilowatt–hour price for electricity usage below the monthly Baseline Allowance. Your Baseline Allowance consists of an allotment of energy available at the lowest price based upon where you live, your heating source, and the season (summer or winter). Customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline program are allotted a higher Baseline Allowance.

7 Generation Credit
The amount PG&E would have charged you if they provided your generation service. Because you’re getting your electricity from MCE, PG&E credits these fees back to you.

8  Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA)
PG&E collects this fee to cover the cost of energy they had contracted to purchase on your behalf prior to becoming an MCE customer.

9  Franchise Fee Surcharge
This fee pays for PG&E’s right to use public streets to run electric service to your home or business. This cost as well as the PCIA are always included in our cost comparisons.

sample electric bill showing customer rate schedule, Deep Green total, utility users tax, energy surcharge

10  Rate Schedule
Your rate schedule is based on your selected PG&E rate and determines how you are charged for the electricity provided. For more details on rates, visit mceCleanEnergy.org/rates.

11  Deep Green
If you have chosen Deep Green 100% renewable energy service, you will have a line item for the penny per kilowatt-hour ($0.01/kWh) Deep Green premium. Half of this premium funds development of local projects and programs that benefit the community.

12  Local Utility Users Tax
Some cities may assess customers a Utility Users Tax, which is calculated as a percentage and applied to both your PG&E delivery and MCE generation charges.

13  Energy Commission Tax
This charge applies regardless of your service provider. It is collected from all customers on behalf of the California Energy Commission.

Solar Net Energy Metering Customers

If you have solar panels and questions about the net energy metering portion of your bill, please visit our Solar webpage.

Do you have questions? We have answers!

MCE and PG&E are dedicated to working together to make your service and billing simple and convenient. If you have questions about your MCE charges, call us at 1 (888) 632-3674 or email us at info@mceCleanEnergy.org. For questions about PG&E charges, call PG&E at 1 (866) 743-0335.