PG&E offers five main ways to pay your bill, and the fastest is online through your account
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) lets you pay through their website, mobile app, phone line, automatic bank transfer, or mail. Online payment through your PG&E account is the quickest — it posts the same day if you pay before 5 p.m. Pacific time on a business day. Phone payment takes the same amount of time but requires speaking to a representative. Automatic payments (called Budget Billing or AutoPay) deduct from your bank account on a date you choose each month, which removes the step of paying manually but locks you into a fixed schedule.
The method you choose depends on whether you want speed, convenience, or certainty that a payment won't be missed. Each route has different cutoff times and fees, and some require you to have your account number ready before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Online payment through your PG&E account or the mobile app posts the same day if submitted before 5 p.m. Pacific time on a business day, with no fee.
- Phone payments (1-800-743-5000) take the same time as online but require a representative and may charge a fee depending on your payment method.
- Automatic payments from your bank account remove the need to pay manually each month, but you must set them up in advance through your account.
- Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to post and should include your account number and payment stub to avoid delays.
- PG&E charges a fee for credit or debit card payments made online or by phone, but not for bank account transfers or checks.
Paying online through your PG&E account or app
Log into your account at pge.com or open the PG&E mobile app, then select "Pay My Bill" or "Make a Payment." You will need your account number (found on your bill) and either a bank account or debit card. Enter the amount you want to pay and choose your payment date — you can pay when ready or schedule a payment for a future date up to 30 days out.
If you pay before 5 p.m. Pacific time on a business day, the payment posts the same day and your account reflects the payment when ready. Payments made after 5 p.m. or on weekends and holidays post the next business day. There is no fee for bank account payments, but PG&E charges a fee (currently around 2.5% of the payment amount) if you use a credit or debit card.
The mobile app works the same way as the website and is useful if you want to pay while away from a computer. Both routes let you see your payment history and set up reminders for future bills.
Paying by phone with a PG&E representative
Call PG&E's payment line at 1-800-743-5000. A representative will ask for your account number and the amount you want to pay, then guide you through entering your bank account or card information. Phone payments post on the same timeline as online payments — same day if you call before 5 p.m. Pacific time on a business day, next business day otherwise.
PG&E charges a fee for credit or debit card payments made by phone but not for bank account payments. The fee structure is the same as online: roughly 2.5% of the payment amount for card payments. If you do not have your account number, the representative can look it up using your service address or phone number, which adds a few minutes to the call.
Phone payment is slower than online only in the sense that it requires a conversation, but the payment itself posts at the same speed. Use this method if you prefer speaking to someone or if you do not have internet access.
Setting up automatic payments from your bank account
Automatic payments remove the need to pay manually each month. Log into your PG&E account, go to "Billing and Payment," then select "Automatic Payments" or "AutoPay." Choose your bank account as the payment method and the date each month when you want the payment to come out — most people choose the date their bill is due or a few days after.
PG&E deducts the full bill amount on the date you select, every month, until you cancel. There is no fee for automatic bank account payments. If your bill amount changes (which it does seasonally for most customers), the payment adjusts automatically — you do not have to update it manually.
The main trade-off is that you lose control over the exact payment date each month. If your bill is higher than expected or your bank account is low, the automatic deduction still happens on schedule. You can pause or cancel AutoPay at any time through your account, but you must do so before the scheduled payment date to stop that month's deduction.
Paying by mail with a check
Write a check for the amount due, include your payment stub (the bottom part of your bill), and mail it to the address printed on your bill. PG&E's mailing address varies by region, so use the one on your bill rather than searching online — using the wrong address delays your payment.
Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to post after PG&E receives them, and mail itself takes 3 to 5 days to arrive. This means a check you mail today may not post for two to three weeks. If your bill is due soon, mail is not a reliable option — use online or phone payment instead.
Always include your account number on the check or payment stub so PG&E can match the payment to your account. Checks without account numbers may be held while PG&E tries to identify which account they belong to, delaying the posting date further.
Understanding PG&E's payment fees and cutoff times
PG&E charges a fee only for credit or debit card payments, whether you pay online or by phone. The fee is typically around 2.5% of the payment amount and is added to your next bill. Bank account payments and checks have no fee.
Cutoff times matter for same-day posting. Payments submitted online or by phone before 5 p.m. Pacific time on a business day post the same day. Payments submitted after 5 p.m., on weekends, or on holidays post the next business day. If you are close to your due date, submit payment by 5 p.m. on the due date itself to avoid a late fee — do not wait until the next day.
PG&E's business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If your due date falls on a weekend or holiday, PG&E typically extends the due date to the next business day, but check your bill to confirm.
What to do if your payment does not post
If you paid online or by phone and do not see the payment in your account within one business day, log back into your account and check your payment history. The payment should appear there even if your bill balance has not updated yet. If the payment does not appear in your history, contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to confirm whether the payment was received.
If you mailed a check more than three weeks ago and it still has not posted, call PG&E with your check number and the amount. PG&E can search their records to see if the check arrived and where it is in the processing queue. If the check was lost in the mail, you may need to stop payment on the original check and submit a new payment online or by phone.
Keep records of online and phone payments — take a screenshot or note the confirmation number provided at the end of the transaction. This protects you if a dispute arises about whether the payment was made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my PG&E bill with a credit card without a fee?
No. PG&E charges a fee (around 2.5% of the payment amount) for all credit and debit card payments, whether online or by phone. Bank account payments and checks have no fee. If you want to avoid the fee, use your bank account or mail a check instead.
What happens if I pay after my due date?
PG&E charges a late fee if your payment is not received by the due date shown on your bill. The late fee is typically a percentage of the amount due. If you are going to be late, call PG&E to discuss your options — they may be able to work out a payment plan or extend your due date in some cases.
Can I schedule a payment for a specific date in the future?
Yes. When you pay online or through the app, you can choose to schedule the payment for up to 30 days in the future. Select the date you want the payment to post, and PG&E will process it on that day. This is useful if you want to time the payment with when you receive income.
Do I need to set up an online account to pay my bill?
No. You can pay by phone (1-800-743-5000) or mail without creating an account. However, an online account makes it easier to track your payment history, set up automatic payments, and see your bill before it arrives in the mail.
What if I want to pay only part of my bill this month?
You can pay any amount less than the full bill due, online or by phone. PG&E will explore the partial payment to your account, and the remaining balance will be due by the next due date. Partial payments do not reset your due date — the rest of the bill is still due on the original date.