What’s that $87.13 credit on my PG&E bill? Here’s why you’re getting the money

Fresno PG&E customers opening their monthly bills don’t usually have something to look forward to, but they will in April: A credit of up to $87.13.

It’s there as part of the Residential Climate Credit, something all residential customers receive, regardless of the amount of energy they have consumed. The credit is issued twice a year, in April and October. Electricity users get $39.30, gas users get $47.83, and both credits are paid to consumers of the two services.

For those living in mobile homes, the state mandates that the landlord pass the credits on to each resident, if the landlord pays the utility bill, according to the Public Utilities Commission. More details are available on the PUC website. Small business owners will receive a double credit in October.

How the program works

According to the Public Utility Commission, the state requires power plants, natural gas distributors, and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits from auctions managed by the Air Resources Board. The residential credit is the consumer’s share of payments from the program.

Yearly, the state auctions a limited number of emission permits with a goal of reducing its overall emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Some proceeds are used to fight climate change, and some are returned to Californians as a climate credit, according to the PUC.

Residents who receive power from a government producer, such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, do not receive the credit.