Hourly Flex Pricing Pilot

Hourly Flex Pricing is a pilot that offers a way to lower energy costs by shifting usage to off-peak times in response to real-time price signals. This also promotes cleaner energy and a more reliable grid.

Prices vary by hour based on market conditions and can be found on PG&E’s Hourly Pricing website. Trending prices are published seven days in advance. Final prices are set at 4 p.m. one day in advance. On Flex Alert Days, prices are updated again by 6 p.m. If enrolled, you can monitor prices for the upcoming week and shift your energy usage to cheaper hours, thereby enabling potential cost savings.

Prices are likely to be higher on extreme weather days or when grid conditions impact overall electricity demand. Seasonal prices also vary, with higher prices during the summer months (June through September) and lower during other times of the year.

The pilot runs through late 2027. Once the pilot ends, you will not need to make any changes at the end of the pilot; you will remain on your current rate plan.

The HFP pilot is available to qualifying agricultural, commercial, and residential customers. Please refer to your customer type tab on our HFP webpage for more information regarding eligible rates.

The pilot provides automation service providers (ASPs) who can send direct price signals to your devices will help you manage your energy use based on hourly prices.

• Polaris Energy Services is the designated ASP for qualifying agricultural customers
• More information on ASPs for residential and commercial customers will be provided later, please check back soon

Technologies are also available to help you minimize energy use during the most expensive times of day. Examples include:

• Smart thermostats to help you manage your HVAC
• Electric vehicle charging technology for homes and businesses
• Irrigation pumping automation equipment for agricultural use
• Energy management systems that help schedule manufacturing operations

When you enroll in the pilot, you can:

• Decrease your energy usage during high-demand periods and save money by doing so
• Connect your smart thermostats, irrigation systems, EV chargers and other eligible equipment to automatically run during lower-cost times of day
• Demonstrate energy savings over a one-year period of enrollment in the pilot to receive credit

During the pilot phase, you will never pay more on HFP than they would on your regular PG&E bill and can cancel at any time.

While on the pilot program:

• You continue to receive and pay your regular monthly PG&E energy statement, which includes your 3CE generation charges. The rate plan used to calculate your energy bill is unchanged
• You will also receive a monthly supplemental Hourly Flex Pricing statement that tracks your performance while on the pilot program

Dual participation in Hourly Flex Pricing and the following Demand Response programs is allowed:

• Smart Rate
• Peak Day Pricing
• Emergency Load Reduction Pilot Subgroup A1, A3, and A6

Dual participation in Hourly Flex Pricing and the following programs is not allowed:

• Base Interruptible Program, Capacity Bidding Program, Demand Response Automation Mechanism Demand Response Resource Adequacy Contracts, Demand Side Grid Support
• Flex Market Pilot
• Emergency Load Reduction Program Subgroup A2, A4 and A5, Subgroup B
• Optional Binding Mandatory Curtailment, Scheduled Load Reduction Program
• Any supply-side Demand Response programs or event-based load-modifying programs

Billing is based on the customer’s current rate plan. If you do better on the HFP pilot rate, you will receive credit once annually (after 12 months following enrolment).

If your HFP performance does not result in a credit, you are not responsible for any additional charges.

Please see PG&E’s HFP fact sheet for agricultural customers here.

Please see PG&E’s HFP fact sheet for commercial customers here.