What exactly is the PG&E* charge on my bank statement?

The PG&E* charge is a payment processed by Pacific Gas & Electric for your natural gas and/or electricity service in Northern or Central California. It appears with an asterisk due to standard merchant descriptor formatting used by PG&E's payment processor.

Why does the charge say PG&E* instead of Pacific Gas & Electric?

Banks and card networks truncate merchant names to fit statement character limits. Pacific Gas & Electric's payment system transmits the abbreviated descriptor 'PG&E*', which is the official short-form name used in all card-based transactions.

Can I get a refund on a PG&E* charge?

Yes. If Pacific Gas & Electric overcharged you or charged you in error, contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. Verified billing errors are typically refunded as a credit to your PG&E account or returned to your original payment method.

How do I cancel automatic payments to Pacific Gas & Electric?

Log into your account at pge.com, go to 'Billing & Payment,' and select 'Manage AutoPay' to cancel your enrollment. Future PG&E* charges will stop once autopay is deactivated, though you will still owe any outstanding balance.

How do I stop future PG&E* charges if I'm moving?

Contact Pacific Gas & Electric at 1-800-743-5000 or visit pge.com to submit a stop-service request. Provide your move-out date to ensure PG&E* charges cease after your final bill is settled.

Home›Browse Charges›Utilities›PG&E*

PG&E* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "PG&E*" charge is from Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E electricity and gas bill California.

🌍 US🕐 7 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Pacific Gas & Electric

PG&E electricity and gas bill California.

PG&E*

Why this shows on your statement

Pacific Gas & Electric uses the abbreviated descriptor "PG&E*" on bank statements because the company operates under its widely recognized initialism as a registered billing name, and most payment processing systems cap merchant descriptors at a limited number of characters, making the full "Pacific Gas & Electric" too long to display reliably. The asterisk following "PG&E*" is a standard separator added by the billing system to allow space for a transaction reference code or service account identifier that may follow it on your statement. California residents receiving monthly electricity and gas service from PG&E can confidently identify this charge as their regular utility bill, typically around $150 depending on usage.

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What should you do?

Confirm Your PG&E Service Address

Log in to your Pacific Gas & Electric account at pge.com and verify that the charge amount matches the billing period for your California home or business address where you receive electricity or gas service.

Review Your PG&E Bill Details

Visit pge.com to view your most recent Pacific Gas & Electric statement and compare the billed amount against your actual usage, checking for any rate changes, seasonal increases, or one-time fees that may explain the charge amount.

Check Your PG&E Payment History

Sign in at pge.com/account to review your Pacific Gas & Electric payment history and ensure the PG&E* charge on your bank statement is not a duplicate payment or an amount that differs unexpectedly from your previous months of billing.

Manage or Update Your PG&E Billing Preferences

If you want to adjust autopay settings, switch to paperless billing, or review your Pacific Gas & Electric payment plan, head to pge.com/account where you can manage all billing options and ensure future PG&E* charges align with your expected monthly utility costs.

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How to cancel Pacific Gas & Electric

Pacific Gas & Electric bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Pacific Gas & Electric

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Should you be worried?

No, this is a legitimate charge from Pacific Gas & Electric. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the PG&E* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

A PG&E* charge on your bank or credit card statement is almost always a legitimate billing from Pacific Gas & Electric, the major utility provider serving Northern and Central California. This charge typically appears when PG&E processes a payment for your natural gas or electricity service, either as a one-time payment or through their autopay program.

You or a household member enrolled in PG&E's automatic bill payment program
A one-time online payment was made at pge.com for your utility bill
A budget billing or deposit payment was processed by Pacific Gas & Electric
A reconnection fee or service charge was applied to your PG&E account

How to Verify the PG&E* Charge

1
Log into your PG&E account
Visit pge.com and sign in to your Pacific Gas & Electric account. Navigate to 'Billing & Payment History' to match the charge amount and date to your records.
2
Search your email for PG&E receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Pacific Gas & Electric (noreply@pge.com or billing@pge.com). PG&E sends payment confirmation emails that will match the PG&E* charge on your statement.
3
Check with household members
Ask other members of your household whether they made a payment to Pacific Gas & Electric. Multiple adults on the same account may submit payments independently.
4
Review your autopay enrollment
If you enrolled in PG&E's autopay program, the PG&E* charge will appear automatically each billing cycle. Log into pge.com to confirm your autopay status and scheduled amounts.
5
Contact your bank
If you still cannot reconcile the PG&E* charge, call the number on the back of your card. Your bank can provide the exact merchant ID and transaction details tied to the charge.

How to Dispute a PG&E* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the statement date. Don't delay if you believe the PG&E* charge is unauthorized or incorrect — start the process immediately.
2
Contact Pacific Gas & Electric first
Call PG&E customer service at 1-800-743-5000 or log into pge.com to dispute a billing error directly. Pacific Gas & Electric can often resolve overcharges or duplicate payments faster than a bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Pacific Gas & Electric cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute the PG&E* charge formally. Provide your PG&E account number, the charge amount, and any correspondence with PG&E as evidence.
4
Request a new card if fraud is suspected
If you do not have a PG&E account and the PG&E* charge is completely unrecognized, request a replacement card from your bank immediately to prevent further unauthorized transactions.

Tips for Managing Pacific Gas & Electric Charges

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Enable PG&E bill-ready alerts at pge.com so you're notified before each PG&E* charge hits your card.

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Download your PG&E monthly statements and cross-reference them with every PG&E* charge on your bank statement.

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Keep your Pacific Gas & Electric online account credentials updated and check your payment methods regularly.

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PG&E billing cycles are monthly — note your cycle close date to anticipate when the PG&E* charge will appear.

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Set a bank account alert for any PG&E* transactions over your typical bill amount to catch errors fast.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges that may appear alongside your PG&E* transaction.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a PG&E* charge is simply Pacific Gas & Electric collecting payment for your monthly utility bill — either through autopay or a one-time payment you or a household member submitted. A quick login to pge.com is usually all it takes to confirm the charge and put your mind at ease.