PG&E utility bill, and how to read some of it :)

[Cindy Lyman]

I want to thank many of you that have asked for my futher input regarding how to read your PG&E bill in your hand and online.

If you are interested in learning how to read your bill, read further.

In order to compare my bill to your bill, find your last P.G.&E. bill. 

Go ahead.  I'll wait. 

Good.  You're back. 

Look for the page on your PG&E bill that shows just one month, not the year. 

Your bill should look something like my bill covered January 19 to February 16   (See below):

Each one of those blue lines indicates one day only.  At the very bottom, it shows the day and date every 5 days for a single non-calendar month (Thur 19, Sat 21...).  

LEGEND: The solid blue line indicates P.G.& E's 'Smart Meter" says it successfully received data. The lighter-colored stripped blue line indicates "This Day was estimated". And the purple wavy line indicates the weather for that time and date.

Please take the time to read PG&E's disclaimer paragraph DIRECTLY below this starting with, "The graph displayed above depicts...".

Now, please look specifically at my January 16th usage (above-far right). It shows I have used about 14 kWh for that one day, estimated. 

You will need to sign up on PG&E's site for the next step to see your own current or past bill. 

Once you have signed into your own PG&E residential account, you will be able to put your cursor on your January 16th date, then click on it.

Your full month's bill now turns into a single 'day view' bill.

[I wanted to show you my current bill for the date of January 16th is 'day view' but now (2/28/23 at 3:11 p.m.) their system will not show any 'day view' data. Our phone and internet were recently reinstated.  Perhaps they are doing something with our/their backup system.]

I can, however, show you my January 5th bill 'day use'. 

My notes on my personal calendar at my kitchen table show that on January 5, 2023, we had no electricity for the full 24 hours on that date.  Yet, PG&E is saying they are estimating I am using higher electricity between 5-9, the hours I try to use lower electricity.  But again, WE HAD NO ELECTRICITY IN OUR VALLEY.

To see your January 5th 'day view', go to day view, then arrow over to the month including the service of January 5th. 

Full disclosure here: Thanks to modern technology's 'delay run' features on my washer, dryer, and my dishwasher, I run those appliances after 9 p.m. at night in order to save money.

Here's the kicker: Look at my January 5th Day View above. See how it is high especially around 8, 9, 10, 11 P.M.? 

WE HAD NO ELECTRICITY ON JANUARY 5TH.

So, what does your Smart-Meter-read, January 5, 2023, bill say on your hand copy? Or, like so many of my optomistic friends, did you also opt for paperless PG&E billing?

Friends, smart meters aren't smart.  People are.

Be smart.  Check your own PG&E bill. Ask questions.

Together we can do this.

Cindy Lyman