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Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Important information
- Customer Complaint:
BBB’s profile for Pacific Gas & Electric was created September 1931. A review of complaints was completed in November 2024. For questions concerning rates, please visit
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Complaints
This profile includes complaints for Pacific Gas & Electric Company's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Complaints Summary
- 308 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 107 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:12/23/2022
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
PG&E billed me 650 dollars more than my normal bill this month. It is so high I will have to leave this apartment and cancel the account. They previously stated my unit was wired wrong twice and billed me over 400 dollars and now they want 650 and its more than me and my wife make at our full time jobs. I cant pay **** for rent 400 for car insurance gas and a 650 dollar bill and afford to eat. At this point its the third time they have said my unit was wired wrong and hit me with and insane bill. This is going to effect my future as i will have to move now I can not afford to pay.Initial Complaint
Date:12/22/2022
Type:Order IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
We were charged for a bill on 10/21/2022 that was 4x more than any month without any explanation to what could cause the high bill of $1,461.77. I called to ask why we were charged so much and the company couldn't offer any explanation as to why this month so high. Our usual bill is any where from $250-$300/month. We barely run the A/C especially in October. Their response was that a window A/C unit that we got last year and run in the summer was the cause. It is insane that we are stuck with the bill that is 4 times that of June and August when you actually need A/C. Please explain why the bill was so high.Initial Complaint
Date:12/21/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I moved from ************* to ******* in September of this year. Before the move, I called PG&E to have my services transferred from one apartment to the new one. My recent bill jumped to $200, so I went into my account to investigate and discovered that I had been paying the energy bills for both my current apartment and my previous apartment in *************. I called into the support line and was told that they will not refund me the double payments because I did not specifically say the word 'transfer' or 'stop'. I did, however, specifically say that I was moving and need to transfer the service. After speaking with multiple people who told me they could not help me, I requested they listen to the recording of the original conversation when I told them I was moving. At no time during the conversation was I asked to say the specific words 'stop' or 'transfer' which was apparently what I needed to say in order to not have to pay the double bill. PG&E is the only option for energy in *************, and I have no choice but to go through them, which feels very unfair because the only option they provided for me was to create a payment plan for the over charges.Initial Complaint
Date:12/14/2022
Type:Product IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Received a bill of $312.81 for 33 days period. The problem was I never receiving a bill more than $9 for more than 2 years. I did email them one to check the meter a year ago, but no one came. I don't mind to pay the bill, but I am not so sure about accuracy. I am 72 yrs. old and afraid of pneumonia. I didn't use the main heater, but use the portable electric heaters since 12/11/22, after receiving the bill in the 9th. In my apartment, only use gas for the main heater, and all other we use electricity. I wish I can use a few hours in the morning when the apartment is cold outside of my bedroom which portable electric heater is placed.Initial Complaint
Date:12/09/2022
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
The **************** at ******************** Doesn't help. I was on a payment Plan, I used the website to set up a payment. a month later I find the payment I thought I made didn't go through and PG&E made no attempt to notify me of this. They **************** provider told me it is my responsibility to make sure the payment goes through. Because of this I was dropped from the program and told I can't get on it for 12 months. He also said it was my fault I was kicked off the program because I didn't pay the Bill. I attempted to pay the bill it was PG&E that is at fault. Like other Businesses, they didn't even try to inform me of the payment not going through. They also told me I should have had a notification option turned on for this. PG&E has never told me about any Notification options before so how would I know that they have added one now?Initial Complaint
Date:12/08/2022
Type:Order IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I called PGE to cancel my service in Sep during which I paid outstanding balance in full. And on Nov-22, I got an email from PGE (attached) saying I still own ***** for closing cost which though unexpected I am ok to pay it, and when I called PGE, they claim I now own ***** for closing (not *****) which coming out of nowhere. And they transferred me to few different departments to figure this out and claimed I need to pay ***** and they are not aware of ***** number. Though they can easily access the email they sent me and know the ***** number they kept playing dumb that they don't know the email and required me to send the screenshot by fax. So I sent the proof to this fax ********** attn: candy, though after sending the proof, I never heard back from them. And recently, I got a mail form PGE saying I own *****, in which ***** is for PGE and remaining ***** is for third party. I don't understand who is third party and how can PGE randomly put various charging numbers.Initial Complaint
Date:11/23/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have an active application with PG&E Electric power company that has a Monopoly in ***********, **. is being around 6 months from the beginning of my intention to get a service line drop to a 2 bedroom unit I built. and they dont want to get me the service in a reasonable time and now Im having problems with the other unit that is in the same lot and where the electric power is coming to the new unit and the other family is getting affected and they possibly have medical issues and all this could have been resolved if PG&E the electric company in *********** ** would had provided me as the landlord with the service in a proper timely matter and not making me wait a year for a service that is essential and where I CANT get service from any other company because they have the monopoly and Im at there mercy I need help resolving this matter as soon as possible Thank youInitial Complaint
Date:11/16/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
From May 2022 onward, the PG&E bill for a one person household went up steadily. Every month I would call and ask them to explain why. They blamed the weather, potential new household appliances, and the meter. However, I dont have AC in my house, havent bought any appliances, and have always trusted the smart meter. Typically, my bill is $80-100/month. My last bill from October was $270. It was from May of this year that the bill went up, first to $110, $119, $147, $209, $245 and finally $247. After much disagreement and refusal from them to acknowledge their meter was broken, I finally got them to send out someone to check the meter. It was broken: the display had stopped working. The tech who changed it said that customers bills have erroneously gone up by 3 or 4 times towards the end of the meters life. So that might be why my bill had gone up dramatically. Even PG&E agents had told me that there would be a bill adjustment if they found the meter to be the source of the problem. Fast forward to today. I get a call from *******, a supervisor at PG&E, who left a voicemail saying that since the meter switch daily consumption had changed from 45kWh to 12-18kWh per day. So I call them back and get transferred twice. Eventually, ******, a self-described highest level employee and seeming highest power in the land, hears my plight and tells me she can adjust the last 3 bills. Two minutes later she backtracks and says she stands by the information received by the meter and no adjustment can be made. She says I can either make a payment plan for the $670+ I owe or ask for financial aid from a local agency. No resolution. You can imagine how a lifetime PG&E customer like me, a single mother of two, in her 60s, in a pending recession might perceive this. PG&E was not on my side and its employees will make false promises and protect the mothership at all costs. I do not trust them to look after me even if they are at fault. Take care and examine your bill carefully.Initial Complaint
Date:11/03/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
A representative of PG&E contacted me on July 18, 2022 letting me know they would like to remove a dangerous diseased fir tree from my property that posed a threat to their power lines. I was well aware that the tree was a concern and actually had an appointment to have the tree removed by a contractor the following Sunday July 24, 2022. I asked the rep when I could expect them to remove the tree so I could make an informed decision on whether to keep the appointment I had scheduled, The representative told me "about 2 months". Since that was before winter and I didn't expect any major storms before then, I cancelled my appointment. It is now almost 4 months later (Nov 3, 2022) and the tree is still there. I have contacted the tree company contracted with PG&E in my area ********************** and spoke with one of their reps. **** told me that PG&E has diverted their resources from my neighborhood until the following year due to lack of funding.The arborist I had look at the tree earlier this year stated he was very concerned about the tree and that it definitely needs to come down. The tree has a fungal infection and a large canker towards the base of the 200+ ft tall tree (see pics). The tree poses a threat to the main PG&E power line, as well as my home and it's inhabitants, including my 9 month old son, depending in which direction it decides to fall.It is now late enough in the year that even if I tried to hire an arborist myself (again) I wouldn't be able to get on the schedule until after winter.PG&E needs to honor their promise to remove this dangerous tree in a timely manner before the risk of major winter storm increases further (by the end of November 2022) in order to avoid a potential lawsuit due to negligence.Initial Complaint
Date:11/03/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
A representative of PG&E contacted me on July 18, 2022 letting me know they would like to remove a dangerous diseased fir tree from my property that posed a threat to their power lines. I was well aware that the tree was a concern and actually had an appointment to have the tree removed by a contractor the following Sunday July 24, 2022. I asked the rep when I could expect them to remove the tree so I could make an informed decision on whether to keep the appointment I had scheduled, The representative told me "about 2 months". Since that was before winter and I didn't expect any major storms before then, I cancelled my appointment. It is now almost 4 months later (Nov 3, 2022) and the tree is still there. I have contacted the tree company contracted with PG&E in my area ********************** and spoke with one of their reps. **** told me that PG&E has diverted their resources from my neighborhood until the following year due to lack of funding.The arborist I had look at the tree earlier this year stated he was very concerned about the tree and that it definitely needs to come down. The tree has a fungal infection and a large canker towards the base of the 200+ ft tall tree (see pics). The tree poses a threat to the main PG&E power line, as well as my home and it's inhabitants, including my 9 month old son, depending in which direction it decides to fall.It is now late enough in the year that even if I tried to hire an arborist myself (again) I wouldn't be able to get on the schedule until after winter.PG&E needs to honor their promise to remove this dangerous tree in a timely manner before the risk of major winter storm increases further (by the end of November 2022) in order to avoid a potential lawsuit due to negligence.
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