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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
- 313 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 111 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: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.Initial Complaint
Date:11/01/2022
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 am currently facing a PGE bill of $282.45 as of 11/1/2022. My account is set to autopay. PGE is reporting that the last payment from 9/20/2022 at $146.95. It then lists the payment as returned with no explanation provided. The statement from the listed billing account shows a payment returned on 9/20/2022 with no explanation given. My checking account with the autowithdraw on lists a refund dated 9/22/2022 for $29.00. I did not receive any notification from PGE regarding the payment. It then lists a bill for 9/29/2022 for $136.74 with payment at $0.00 for 10/20/2022 and the bill for 10/28/2022 for -$1.24. The payment history I've downloaded lists my last payment as $146.95 on 9/20/2022 as received at the heading and then the amount due as $282.45. No one has attempted to contact me regarding this and no one has attempted to contact me with regards to my account either by email or by mail. I clicked on an email from PGE to view my bill and was shocked at the amount due. This is unacceptable for a business to operate in this manner and I would like to be contacted by someone who oversees accounts for PG&E regarding my bill, the lack of notice surrounding refund/returned payment, the double bill I am currently facing, and the accusation that I have failed to pay twice. As with current economic challenges and inflation, springing a nearly $300 bill on someone who has a record of consistent timely payments and no attempt to contact them is an irresponsible and predatory way to operate a business providing a necessary public service. My contact information is current and available to PG&E and I received no text, no phone call, no email, and no letters regarding a past due payment or returned payment.Initial Complaint
Date:10/18/2022
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.
Moved from the below address on 07/22/22:7547 ****************************************************** Currently residing at the below address:5666 ******************************************************************** They would not backdate the request to cancel when moved out on 07/22/22 of ******************* has been canceled today 10/18/22 with ************** when I realized it will not automatically cancel when a new home address is set up on the account.************ canceled at 3:27 PM at phone number **************.Transferred to a supervisor named **** and was reassured by him they would not retro-cancel the bill to 07/22/22 when I had moved out.Essentially the company is telling me that I have to pay for services not rendered to me and that I am required to pay for services rendered to someone else.I would request for the account to receive a credit for backdated cancellation to 07/22/22 and a bill sent to the homeowner for that time period.Initial Complaint
Date:10/17/2022
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.
My parents has illegally put a pg&e **** in my name when I turned 18 and I filled for fraud with the company but they keep contacting me with letters for money.Initial Complaint
Date:10/16/2022
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.
We have recently noticed that PG&E has been "estimating" our bill for nearly 1 year (starting 01/31/2022) based on small text placed on the bill. On 2/17/2022 ~11:45am a PG&E technication came to our door to replace the meter because "meter not communicating" and said someone would return later in afternoon with replacement meter and would replace it. Since meter is acceible from street we assumed the meter change happened. Only recently did I notice on bills the small wording of "estimated bill". Now, after speaking with others and an ongoing issue on an unreleated commercial account I know for a fact that the "meter not communicating" so we will "estimate" a bill issue starting 2022 is not isolated here to my home. However, I will keep this complaint about this specific account.We now notice that PG&E's estimates have been MASSIVELY in its favor. To resolve this complaint, I am requesting an audit and recalculation of my usage for all estimated billing months in 2022 and a substaintial service credit placed on my account. I expect that PG&E is overestimated usage by nearly 100% in some months. To remedy the metering going forward, we have opted out of PG&E's "SMART" meter program would apparently allows for arbitray adjustments and too-easily results in "communication loss" which allows for PG&E to begin estimating bills. In all, we will have to pay $435 ($75 + $10*36/mo) for the privledge of having an accurate bill based on analog metering. Please ensure that you actually send someone to read meter monthly as the new analog meter readings are being logged via photograph weekly at minimum - any estimated bills going forward will be rejected. If a usage revision and substaintial service credit is not posted to account promptly, I will be contacting the ***** my congressman, the **** and potentially an attorney to seek other remedies regarding this matter.Thanks,*********************Initial Complaint
Date:10/10/2022
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 became aware in Sept ************************************************* ~Jun 2020 was not functioning & reporting accurate usage. This became apparent when I received an electric bill in Sept 2021 (for Aug 2021 usage) that was very high and during a time when 1) I was out of town for the entire period, and 2) the power was turned off as I was having work done.I contacted PG&E on Sept 8, 2021 and filed case #**********. I was told PG&E had been estimating my bill since ~Jul 2020. I believe the estimating continued until PG&E could address the issue on ~Nov 2, 2021 (as a result of my request for an audit). PG&E came to the house and verified the meter read (and/or changed the meter, I have gotten conflicting reports) on Nov 2, 2021. I was then told that PG&E came back out on Dec 21, 2021 (and perhaps since) to verify it is now accurate.It's unclear to me what happened between Nov 2021 & Mar 2022, but starting Mar 2022 I was able to turn on solar and another new meter reading. Since Mar 2022 I believe all my bills have been "actual" or "real", to the best of my knowledge. But, there has not been any accounting for the period of Estimates between Jul 2020 & Nov/Mar 2022. I believe this estimations resulted in SIGNIFICANT OVERBILlING and I can't get PG&E to address. I have filed NUMEROUS CASES since September 2021.I also had numerous calls with PG&E supervisors (i.e. escalation cases which I believe they call a cancel/re-bill cases) to audit the over-billed amount. All of the PG&E supervisors have researched, confirmed, and noted the issue but cannot resolve it, only escalate to another internal ***** All PGE customer service employees have been wonderful, but they have no power to address and no one they can transfer me to in order to resolve. PG&E is for all intent & purpose organized to not enable customers to dispute bills/estimates. The last conversation I had with PG&E was on October 4, 2022 when another escalation (Case #WFR-228138) was filed.
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