If PG&E is your utility, two things shape solar at your home. On PG&E's E-TOU-C plan, power costs the most from 4 to 9 p.m. every day, when panels make little. And PG&E can cut power on purpose during high wind and fire risk. Both are reasons people look at a battery.
US Grid Relief is not PG&E and is not affiliated with PG&E. We are a California marketing and consultation company that looks at homes for solar and a battery.
1. When does PG&E power cost the most?
PG&E's E-TOU-C plan is named Time-of-Use Peak Pricing 4-9 p.m. Every Day. In PG&E's words, “4-9 p.m. are higher-priced (peak) times. All other times are lower-priced (off-peak).” That holds on weekdays and weekends.1 PG&E also sells other plans, so check your bill for your plan's name.
2. Why does that matter for solar?
Panels make power from sunlight, so they make little or none after sunset.5 On E-TOU-C, those are the hours PG&E prices highest. Under NEM 3.0, power you send back to the grid earns much less credit than under the old rules, and the courts let that rule stand in 2026.7 So storing midday power for the evening matters more than it used to.
3. Does PG&E shut off power on purpose?
Yes, as a last resort. The CPUC says California's investor-owned utilities “may proactively cut power to electrical lines as a measure of last resort if the utility reasonably believes that there is an imminent and significant risk that strong winds may topple power lines or cause major vegetation-related issues leading to increased risk of wildfires.”3 On October 13, 2026, PG&E warned about 70,000 customers in 29 counties of possible shutoffs from October 14 through October 17, for high wind and fire risk.2
4. Will my panels keep the lights on during a shutoff?
Not on their own. A solar system tied to the grid is required to shut off when the grid goes down, so panels without a battery stop powering your home. A battery with the right equipment and setup can keep power on.4 How much it covers depends on the system.
5. Is there still a monthly charge with solar?
Yes. In 2024 the CPUC set a fixed monthly charge of $24.15 for most homes, $12.08 for FERA customers and $6.00 for CARE customers. It is billed no matter how much your panels make.6
Quick answers.
Is US Grid Relief part of PG&E?
No. US Grid Relief is a California marketing and consultation company. We are not PG&E, we are not affiliated with PG&E, and we are not a government agency.
Does PG&E's 4 to 9 p.m. peak apply on weekends?
On the E-TOU-C plan, yes. PG&E names it Time-of-Use Peak Pricing 4-9 p.m. Every Day, weekdays and weekends.
Do solar panels keep my lights on in a PG&E shutoff?
Not on their own. Grid-tied panels shut off when the grid goes down. A battery with the right equipment and setup can keep power on.
Sources.
- PG&E, time-of-use rate plans, checked September 2026.
- PG&E news release, high winds and dry conditions mean PG&E may need to proactively turn off power, October 13, 2026.
- CPUC, public safety power shutoffs, checked September 2026.
- Solar and Resilience Basics, US Department of Energy, checked September 2026.
- US Department of Energy, solar energy and storage basics, checked September 2026.
- CPUC Decision 24-05-028, 2024.
- pv magazine USA, California Supreme Court declines to hear rooftop solar billing case, June 10, 2026.
