MCE or PG&E: what a household pays beta
MCE buys the electricity for 34 member cities; PG&E delivers it and sends the bill. Pick your city, rate plan and usage to see the official comparison of a typical bill on each MCE product and on PG&E, with an estimate for your own usage.
Every plan on the official comparison
The typical monthly bill printed on the comparison for each residential rate plan, and the difference from PG&E (red: more, blue: less).
All MCE customers
PG&E–MCE joint rate comparison: Rates are current as of March 1, 2026. Source (fetched 2026-10-20).
| Plan | Typical use | PG&E | Light Green default | Deep Green |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 Tiered · sheet: E-1 | 432 kWh | $177.04 | $206.30 +16.5% | $211.70 +19.6% |
| E-1 CARE Tiered · sheet: E-1 CARE | 423 kWh | $97.76 | $126.41 +29.3% | $131.69 +34.7% |
| E-TOU-C Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm every day · sheet: E-TOU C | 410 kWh | $165.65 | $194.21 +17.2% | $199.33 +20.3% |
| E-TOU-C CARE Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm every day · sheet: E-TOU C CARE | 365 kWh | $82.53 | $107.90 +30.7% | $112.46 +36.3% |
| E-TOU-D Time-of-use, peak 5–8 pm weekdays · sheet: E-TOU D | 793 kWh | $305.01 | $359.76 +18.0% | $369.67 +21.2% |
| E-TOU-D CARE Time-of-use, peak 5–8 pm weekdays · sheet: E-TOU D CARE | 655 kWh | $150.31 | $195.51 +30.1% | $203.69 +35.5% |
| E-ELEC Electric home · sheet: E-ELEC | 1,080 kWh | $379.54 | $466.16 +22.8% | $479.66 +26.4% |
| E-ELEC CARE Electric home · sheet: E-ELEC CARE | 1,130 kWh | $234.57 | $325.10 +38.6% | $339.23 +44.6% |
| EV2-A Electric vehicle · sheet: EV2-A | 833 kWh | $270.43 | $330.55 +22.2% | $340.96 +26.1% |
| EV2-A CARE Electric vehicle · sheet: EV2-A (CARE) | 817 kWh | $152.46 | $211.47 +38.7% | $221.69 +45.4% |
Why the bills differ
The delivery part of the bill goes to PG&E whichever provider you choose. What differs is the price of the power itself and the exit fee (the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment, PCIA): a charge on CCA customers for power contracts the utility signed before they left, set by the CPUC each year by the year the customer's community left (its “vintage”). How it moved since 2018, by utility and vintage: the exit fee by year.
Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm every day (E-TOU-C), Light Green: the power price is 14.54¢ a kWh against PG&E's 12.21¢ (2.33¢ higher). The exit fee and franchise fee (PCIA/FF) is 3.72¢ for MCE customers and −0.92¢ for PG&E customers (4.64¢ more). Delivery is the same. Net: 6.96¢ a kWh, or $28.56 on the typical 410 kWh bill (+17.2%).
Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm every day (E-TOU-C), CARE, Light Green: the power price is 14.52¢ a kWh against PG&E's 12.20¢ (2.32¢ higher). The exit fee and franchise fee (PCIA/FF) is 3.72¢ for MCE customers and −0.92¢ for PG&E customers (4.64¢ more). Delivery is the same. Net: 6.96¢ a kWh, or $25.37 on the typical 365 kWh bill (+30.7%).
The difference over time
Every comparison found from 2021 on, most of them from archived copies (utilities overwrite these sheets in place).
| Rates as of | Plan | Utility bill | Products (vs the utility) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 MCE service area | E-1 · 432 kWh | $177.04 | Light Green default $206.30 +16.5% Deep Green $211.70 +19.6% | source |
| January 1, 2026 MCE service area | E-1 · 464 kWh | $192.78 | Light Green default $224.25 +16.3% Deep Green $230.06 +19.3% | source |
| October 1, 2025 MCE service area | E-1 · 464 kWh | $202.96 | Light Green default $205.33 +1.2% Deep Green $211.13 +4.0% | source |
| April 1, 2025 MCE service area | E-1 · 464 kWh | $207.50 | Light Green default $209.87 +1.1% Deep Green $214.51 +3.4% | source |
| January 1, 2025 MCE service area | E-1 · 464 kWh | $204.38 | Light Green default $206.74 +1.2% Deep Green $211.39 +3.4% | source |
| October 1, 2024 MCE service area | E-1 · 463 kWh | $203.33 | Light Green default $205.45 +1.0% Deep Green $210.08 +3.3% | source |
| July 1, 2024 MCE service area | E-1 · 463 kWh | $196.40 | Light Green default $198.52 +1.1% Deep Green $203.15 +3.4% | source |
| April 1, 2024 MCE service area | E-TOU-C · 445 kWh | $206.05 | Light Green default $199.59 −3.1% Deep Green $204.04 −1.0% | source |
| June 1, 2023 MCE service area | E-1 · 479 kWh | $174.95 | Light Green default $173.44 −0.9% Deep Green $178.23 +1.9% | source |
| March 1, 2023 MCE service area | E-1 · 479 kWh | $178.44 | Light Green default $176.93 −0.8% Deep Green $181.72 +1.8% | source |
| January 1, 2023 MCE service area | E-1 · 479 kWh | $170.57 | Light Green default $169.06 −0.9% Deep Green $173.85 +1.9% | source |
| March 1, 2022 MCE service area | E-1 · 489 kWh | $171.59 | Light Green default $160.24 −6.6% Deep Green $165.13 −3.8% | source |
| March 1, 2022 MCE service area | E-TOU-C · 481 kWh | $167.79 | Light Green default $156.42 −6.8% Deep Green $161.23 −3.9% | source |
| January 1, 2022 MCE service area | E-1 · 535 kWh | $170.34 | Light Green default $183.12 +7.5% Deep Green $188.47 +10.6% | source |
| May 1, 2021 MCE service area; mailer shows a range by PCIA vintage | E-1 · 535 kWh | $156.39 | Light Green default $157.63 +0.8% Deep Green $162.98 +4.2% 2021 Joint Rate Mailer (CPUC Public Advisor copy). MCE columns are printed as ranges because the PCIA/FF depends on the year the customer's community joined: PCIA/FF $0.02949-$0.04808, Light Green $157.63-$167.57, Deep Green $162.98-$172.92. 'bill' = low end, 'bill_high' = high end. Light Green is above PG&E at both ends. | source |
| May 1, 2021 MCE service area | E-1 · 535 kWh | $154.72 | Light Green default $165.90 +7.2% Deep Green $171.24 +10.7% | source |
| January 1, 2021 MCE service area | E-1 · 529 kWh | $147.50 | Light Green default $157.80 +7.0% Deep Green $163.09 +10.6% | source |
Your options
Switch to another MCE product
Web form (intake form opens as a popup on the page). MCE: change your product.
Return to PG&E
MCE: opt out · (888) 632-3674.
“There is no charge for opting out of MCE before or within the first 60 days of service. Opt-out requests after 60 days of MCE service are charged a one-time administrative fee ($5 per residential account; $25 per commercial account)” source
“If you opt out within the first 60 days of MCE service, you can return to MCE service at any time. If you've used MCE service for 60 days or more and then switch to PG&E, state law dictates that you must remain with PG&E for at least one year before you have the option to return to MCE, even if MCE costs less than PG&E.” source
PG&E's rules for returning customers
After 60 days: six months’ notice: “Former Bundled Service Customers that have been Automatically Enrolled in CCA Service returning to bundled service after the Follow-up Notification Period must provide the CCA with a six (6) month advance notice and are subject to the terms and conditions of Bundled Portfolio Service (BPS) as set forth below.” source
Or return at once: “Alternatively, customers have the ability to return immediately (at or about the next scheduled meter read) to Utility service and receive Transitional Bundled Service (TBS) commodity pricing terms as set forth in PG&E Schedule TBCC and be subject to the provisions and applicable charges of the CCA Cost Responsibility Surcharge as set forth in Schedule CCA-CRS for 6 months after returning to utility service.” source
Then a minimum stay: “Customers receiving this service make a one-year commitment and shall not be allowed to return to CCA service until their one-year minimum period has been completed. ... In the event a customer receives service under TBS during the six-month advance notice period, the time served under TBS shall apply toward the one-year BPS commitment.” source
Re-entry fee: “b. CUSTOMER RE-ENTRY This charge is imposed on the customer. This fee covers the cost of processing customer requests to switch back to PG&E Bundled Service after the Opt-Out period has expired. Fee ... $4.24 account” source
Member cities and their default product
The default product is the one a city's customers are enrolled in unless they choose another; where a CCA offers several, each member city's council chooses it. Every city's default and the council decisions behind it.
| City | Default product | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Canyon | Light Green | source | |
| Belvedere | Light Green | source | |
| Benicia | Light Green | source | |
| Calistoga | Light Green | source | |
| Concord | Light Green | source | |
| Corte Madera | Light Green | source | |
| Danville | Light Green | source | |
| El Cerrito | Light Green | source | |
| Fairfax | Light Green | source | |
| Fairfield | Light Green | source | |
| Hercules | Light Green | source | |
| Lafayette | Light Green | source | |
| Larkspur | Light Green | source | |
| Martinez | Light Green | source | |
| Mill Valley | Light Green | source | |
| Moraga | Light Green | source | |
| Napa | Light Green | source | |
| Novato | Light Green | source | |
| Oakley | Light Green | source | |
| Pinole | Light Green | source | |
| Pittsburg | Light Green | source | |
| Pleasant Hill | Light Green | source | |
| Richmond | Light Green | source | |
| Ross | Light Green | source | |
| San Anselmo | Light Green | source | |
| San Pablo | Light Green | source | |
| San Rafael | Light Green | source | |
| San Ramon | Light Green | source | |
| Sausalito | Light Green | source | |
| St. Helena | Light Green | source | |
| Tiburon | Light Green | source | |
| Vallejo | Light Green | source | |
| Walnut Creek | Light Green | source | |
| Yountville | Light Green | source |
MCE in the CCA money pages: finances, credit ratings, money returned to customers, and money between MCE and its member city governments. · Every CCA