How to Pay Your PG&E Bill with a Credit Card

Paying your monthly PG&E bill is an essential task for any homeowner or renter in PG&E’s service area. While you have several options for paying your bill, using a credit card is one of the most convenient methods. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your PG&E bill with a credit card.

Overview of PG&E Bill Payment Options

PG&E offers customers several ways to pay their monthly bill

• Online through PG&E’s website
• By phone
• By mail
• In person at an authorized payment center

Within those options, you can pay with different payment methods:

• Credit/debit card
• Bank account (checking or savings)
• Cash (in-person only)
• Check

PG&E accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards. However, be aware that PG&E charges a convenience fee for credit/debit card payments to cover processing costs.

Paying online or by phone with a credit/debit card incurs a $1.35 fee. Paying in person incurs a $1 fee.

Paying directly from a bank account does not incur any fees. Mailing a check also avoids fees.

Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Your PG&E Bill Online with a Credit Card

Paying your PG&E bill online with a credit card is quick and easy. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Go to pge.com and click on “Sign In” in the top right corner.

2. Enter your username and password to sign in to your PG&E account. If you don’t already have an online account, you can easily create one.

3. Once signed in, click on “My Account” and select “Pay My Bill” from the dropdown menu.

4. On the Pay My Bill page, click on the “Pay Now” button.

5. On the next screen, enter your payment amount and select your payment method. Choose “Credit Card” from the dropdown menu.

6. Enter your credit card information, including the card number, expiration date and CVV security code. Click “Continue” when finished.

7. Verify that the payment amount and credit card details are correct. Check the box to acknowledge the $1.35 convenience fee.

8. Click “Submit Payment” to complete the transaction.

It’s that easy! The payment will be processed instantly and applied to your account. You’ll receive an emailed receipt as confirmation.

Tips for Paying Your PG&E Bill with a Credit Card

• Double check that your credit card info is entered correctly to avoid processing issues.

• Make sure your credit card won’t expire before the payment date. PG&E bills are generated around the first of each month.

• Keep an eye on your credit card balance. Utility bills are often larger monthly expenses that can impact your utilization rate.

• Consider earning rewards! Many credit cards offer robust rewards programs, so put your PG&E bill spend to good use.

• Set up autopay to have your bill automatically charged to your credit card each month. This prevents late fees caused by forgetting to pay manually.

The Benefits of Paying Your PG&E Bill with a Credit Card

Paying with a credit card offers a few advantages:

It’s quick and convenient. The online payment process through PG&E’s website takes just a few minutes. You can pay from anywhere without mailing a check or visiting an in-person location.

You can earn rewards. Most credit cards offer rewards points or cash back for purchases. Charging your PG&E bill can help you accumulate points over time to redeem for statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, travel and more.

It builds your credit history. Responsibly using a credit card and consistently paying your bill on time helps establish a healthy credit profile. Good credit means better eligibility for loans, credit cards, cell phone plans, rental applications and more.

You can dispute fraudulent charges. If there are ever any fraudulent or incorrect charges on your PG&E bill, you have much stronger fraud protection and dispute rights when paying with a credit card compared to debit or directly from a bank account.

Potential Drawbacks to Paying with a Credit Card

There are a couple of downsides to be aware of:

Credit card convenience fees. The $1.35 fee charged by PG&E can make credit card payments more expensive. This fee is waived when paying directly from a bank account.

Impact on credit utilization. Utility bills are often one of the largest recurring charges on your credit card. High utilization compared to your total credit limit can negatively impact your credit scores.

Risk of late fees. If you forget to pay your bill or there are issues processing your autopay credit card charge, you can incur late fees from PG&E plus increased interest charges on your credit card balance. Set payment reminders and check notifications to prevent problems.

More Ways to Pay Your PG&E Bill

While credit cards offer a quick and convenient payment option, you may prefer to pay your PG&E bill through:

• Electronic check – Free payments directly from your checking or savings account through PG&E’s online portal or automated phone system. Avoid fees and earn interest longer.

• Mail – Write a physical check payable to PG&E and mail it with your remittance stub. Standard postal stamps apply. Slower processing but no convenience fees.

• Authorized payment locations – Visit a nearby 7-Eleven, Western Union, check cashing store and other partner locations to pay your bill in person with cash, debit or other methods.

• Budget Billing – Have your payments evenly distributed throughout the year so seasonal highs/lows don’t break the bank. Call PG&E to enroll.

• Bill assistance programs – Federal, state and local programs are available to help qualified customers pay their utility bills through grants, discounted rates and credits.

No matter how you decide to pay your PG&E bill, be sure to pay the total amount owed by the due date each month to avoid late fees or service disruptions. If you’re struggling to cover the cost, contact PG&E as soon as possible to set up alternative payment arrangements. Consistently paying your bill, whether with credit card or otherwise, is the wise way to maintain good standing as a PG&E customer.