How to save on utility bills in California

How to reduce your electricity bill in California

Most savings come from using less kWh, moving usage off peak when you are on a TOU plan, and qualifying assistance programs (CARE, Medical Baseline, etc.) if you are eligible. Below maps strategies to the major utilities that appear in our California dataset.

PG&E (Northern & Central California)

In our data, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) serves residential electric in: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, Fresno, Clovis, Modesto, Stockton, Bakersfield, Sunnyvale. City pages cite PG&E's Schedule E-1 (tiered) or related published tables as the benchmark at 1,000 kWh—not a specific TOU blend.

Time-of-use: PG&E offers multiple residential TOU plans. Under the current Schedule E-TOU-C tariff, peak pricing runs 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. every day (summer and winter seasons are defined in the schedule, but the peak window is the same). Another common option, E-TOU-D, uses peak 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. on weekdays per PG&E's published plan summaries. If your household can shift cooling, cooking, laundry, and EV charging outside those windows, your average price per kWh can drop versus running the same loads on peak.

• Pre-cool or pre-heat modestly before peak, then ease HVAC during peak hours when rates are highest on TOU.
• Use delay-start on dishwasher and clothes washer; avoid charging an EV during peak if you are on an evening-peaking TOU plan (see PG&E's EV-specific options if you charge a lot overnight).
• Check income-qualified programs (e.g., CARE) and medical baseline if applicable—eligibility rules are on pge.com.

Official plan list: PG&E — Time-of-Use rate plans.

Southern California Edison (SCE) — cities we cover

Our estimates for Irvine, Long Beach, Garden Grove, Thousand Oaks, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula use SCE's published tiered Schedule D-style benchmarks at 1,000 kWh. SCE also offers TOU and other residential plans; peak times and prices vary by plan and season. Use SCE's rate tools to compare against your actual hour-by-hour usage if you are considering switching.

SCE — Residential rates

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)

San Diego in our dataset uses SDG&E's Schedule DR residential structure (tiered by baseline; climatic zone affects results). TOU and DR plans are common in SDG&E territory; shifting flexible loads away from high-demand hours still applies.

SDG&E — Residential pricing plans

SMUD (Sacramento)

Sacramento uses SMUD for municipal electric. Our sourced rate notes reference SMUD's Fixed Rate option with higher summer per-kWh prices, and note that Time-of-Day (5–8 p.m.) is available—peak windows and eligibility are defined in SMUD's current residential tariff. Shifting discretionary use outside the peak window can lower bills on Time-of-Day.

SMUD — Residential rates

Riverside Public Utilities

Riverside residential electric is on Schedule D-TOU in our documentation, with on-peak periods published as 2:00–7:00 p.m. in summer and 4:00–9:00 p.m. in winter (verify on RPU's current electric tariff). Aligning heavy appliances outside those windows is the main behavioral lever.

RPU — Electric rules & rates

Los Angeles, Anaheim, Pasadena, Corona

Los Angeles (LADWP), Anaheim (Anaheim Public Utilities), Pasadena (PWP), and Corona (municipal utility) each set their own retail electric rules. LADWP and other munis often offer optional TOU or time-of-day pricing; check the city utility's residential rate page for peak definitions that apply to your meter. In our data, Anaheim Public Utilities lists an optional TOU-2 residential schedule alongside standard domestic rates.

How to reduce your water bill in California

Water and sewer charges vary by agency—examples in our data include SFPUC in San Francisco, LADWP in Los Angeles, and independent districts elsewhere. Most residential schedules are tiered by volume: staying in lower tiers saves more than small one-time cuts at the margin.

• Fix leaks promptly—toilet flapper and irrigation line leaks are common hidden gallons.
• Landscape: In dry inland and Southern California metros, high outdoor water use can dominate summer bills; turf replacement, drip irrigation, and seasonal watering restrictions (set locally) matter.
• Sewer caps: Some cities bill sewer from winter water use (averaging periods)—see your city page notes when we cite that method (e.g., parts of the Central Valley and coastal cities differ).

Sewer, trash, and fixed charges

Sewer is often tied to water volume or flat service charges; trash may be city-franchised (e.g., Recology in San Francisco per our sources) or bundled on the city bill. You cannot "efficiency" your way out of fixed monthly minimums, but right-sizing carts and avoiding extra yard-waste containers sometimes lowers monthly solid-waste line items where pricing is size-based.

Internet: where you have the most control over your spend

Unlike electric and water for most homes—where you are assigned a utility—broadband is one of the few household bills where you can usually shop multiple providers and plans. California's large metros and suburbs are typically served by competing cable, fiber, fixed wireless, and sometimes DSL or satellite options, so this is one of the best levers for aligning monthly cost with what you actually need.

• Right-size the plan: Match download speed and data needs to your household (streaming, remote work, gaming, smart home). Paying for far more speed than you use—or unlimited data you do not need—adds up over the year.
• Re-shop on a schedule: Internet is a competitive retail market. Promotional pricing, equipment fees, and out-the-door totals change often; a plan that was cheapest two years ago may no longer be the best value today.
• Watch intro rates and renewals: Many offers are introductory; the price after the promo period can jump. Calendar a reminder to compare again before renewal so you are not surprised.
• Bundles and add-ons: TV, mobile, and streaming bundles can save money when they fit your usage—or cost more when you pay for channels or lines you do not use. Compare the bundled total to standalone internet plus only the services you want.
• Fees and equipment: Modem/router rental, installation, and early-termination fees affect the real monthly cost. Ask for the full out-the-door price before you commit.

Use our address-based comparison tool to see current plans and offers in your area (availability and pricing are snapshots—always confirm with the provider). Details and disclosures are on the tool page.