Where to pay Sacramento utility bills
Sacramento's main utility provider is Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for electricity. If you receive natural gas, that comes from Southwest Gas in some areas or PG&E in others, depending on your address. You can pay either bill online, by phone, by mail, or in person.
SMUD bills can be paid through their website at smud.org, by calling 1-888-742-7683, or by mailing a check to the address on your bill. If you pay online, you can set up a one-time payment or enroll in automatic monthly payments from your bank account. Southwest Gas and PG&E have their own separate payment systems — check the bill itself for their payment websites and phone numbers, since they are not SMUD.
Many people find automatic payment easiest because you never miss a due date. SMUD does not charge a fee for automatic payments from a checking or savings account, though some credit card payment processors do charge a convenience fee. Read the fee disclosure before you confirm any payment method.
Key Takeaways
- SMUD handles electricity in Sacramento; natural gas comes from Southwest Gas or PG&E depending on your location, and each company has its own billing and payment system.
- You can pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person, and SMUD does not charge a fee for automatic bank account payments.
- Your SMUD bill shows your rate schedule, which determines how much you pay per kilowatt-hour and whether time-of-use rates apply to your account.
- If you cannot pay your full bill, SMUD offers budget billing and hardship programs that spread costs or reduce charges temporarily.
- Reading the usage section of your bill tells you whether your consumption changed month to month and helps you spot billing errors.
Understanding your SMUD bill structure
Your SMUD bill has several parts, and knowing what each one means helps you spot errors and understand why your bill changed. The bill shows your account number, service address, and billing period at the top. Below that is your usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), your rate schedule, and the charges that apply to you.
The usage section shows how many kWh you consumed during the billing period and compares it to the same month last year. If your usage jumped significantly, that is usually the first sign something changed — either your household used more energy, or a meter malfunction occurred. SMUD's website lets you view your hourly usage data if you have a smart meter, which can help you pinpoint which appliances or times of day are driving the increase.
The charges section breaks down what you are paying for. Most customers see a customer charge (a fixed monthly fee), an energy charge (based on how many kWh you used), and possibly a transmission and distribution charge. Some customers are on time-of-use rates, which means you pay different amounts depending on when you use electricity — peak hours cost more, off-peak hours cost less. Check your bill to see which rate schedule you are on; if you are unsure whether time-of-use rates would save you money, SMUD's website has a rate comparison tool.
How to read your usage and spot problems
The usage graph on your SMUD bill shows your consumption for the past 12 months. A sudden spike usually means either a change in your behavior (running an air conditioner more, for example) or a meter problem. If you see a spike you cannot explain, take a photo of the meter reading on your bill and compare it to your previous bill — if the difference seems too large, contact SMUD to request a meter check.
Meter errors are rare but do happen. SMUD will investigate if you report a suspected problem, and if the meter is found to be faulty, they will adjust your bill back to an estimated usage based on your history. The process usually takes a few weeks. In the meantime, keep paying your regular bill to avoid a late fee; SMUD will credit any overcharge once the investigation closes.
Another common source of confusion is seasonal variation. Summer bills are almost always higher in Sacramento because air conditioning runs more. If your summer bill is much higher than last summer's, check whether you used the AC more often, set it to a lower temperature, or had more people in the house. These are normal reasons for a jump, not billing errors.
Payment plans and hardship programs
If you cannot pay your full bill by the due date, SMUD offers budget billing, which spreads your annual costs into equal monthly payments. This works best if your usage is fairly consistent year to year. You pay the same amount each month, and SMUD adjusts the amount once a year based on your actual usage. Budget billing does not reduce what you owe — it just makes the payment more predictable.
SMUD also has a hardship program for customers facing temporary financial difficulty. The program can reduce your bill temporarily, extend your payment deadline, or set up a payment plan. To learn about this program, call SMUD's customer service at 1-888-742-7683 and ask about hardship assistance. You will need to provide information about your household income and expenses; SMUD uses this to determine whether you may have access to and what help is available.
If you are 60 or older, disabled, or a veteran, you may be may be able to access for SMUD's low-income rate discount. This is a permanent rate reduction, not a temporary program. Contact SMUD directly to ask about this discount and what documents you need to provide.
Late payments and disconnection
SMUD bills are due about 20 days after the bill date. If you miss the due date, SMUD charges a late fee — usually a percentage of your bill. The late fee appears on your next bill. If you are more than 60 days late, SMUD may send a disconnection notice, which means they can turn off your service if you do not pay within a set timeframe (usually 10 days from the notice date).
If you receive a disconnection notice, contact SMUD immediately. Even if you cannot pay the full amount, you can often work out a payment plan or ask about the hardship program. SMUD is required to work with you before disconnecting service, so do not ignore the notice — call them right away.
If your service is disconnected, there is a reconnection fee in addition to your unpaid balance. This fee varies but is typically $50 to $100. Reconnection usually happens within one business day of payment, though it can take longer if the disconnection happened on a weekend or holiday.
Comparing your bill to previous months
The best way to catch billing problems early is to compare each bill to the one from the same month last year. SMUD's online account portal shows your billing history, so you can pull up last year's bill side by side with this month's. Look at three things: usage (kWh), total charges, and rate schedule.
If your usage is similar but your charges are much higher, your rate schedule may have changed. SMUD changes rate schedules periodically, and if you moved to a different rate class (for example, from a standard rate to time-of-use), your bill will jump even if your usage stayed the same. The bill itself will note any rate change, so check the fine print.
If both usage and charges are higher, the increase is likely real — either you used more energy, or SMUD raised rates. SMUD's rates do change, usually once a year. The bill includes a notice if rates changed, and you can find the effective date on SMUD's website. Knowing when rates change helps you understand whether a bill increase is due to your own usage or to a system-wide rate adjustment.
Online account management and paperless billing
SMUD's online portal (smud.org) lets you view your bill, pay online, set up automatic payments, and see your hourly usage data. Creating an account takes about five minutes and requires your account number and service address. Once you are logged in, you can download past bills, set up payment reminders, and view your usage graph.
Paperless billing saves you money on postage and helps you keep track of bills digitally. SMUD does not charge extra for paperless billing — in fact, some utilities offer a small discount for signing up. You can still print bills from your online account if you need a paper copy for records.
If you prefer not to use the online portal, you can still pay by phone or mail. SMUD's phone line is available 24/7, and you can pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account number. Mailed payments should arrive at least five business days before the due date to avoid a late fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I think my meter is broken?
Contact SMUD and describe what you noticed — a sudden usage spike, a meter that is not moving, or a reading that does not match your usage. SMUD will schedule a meter check, which is free. If the meter is faulty, they will adjust your bill based on your historical usage. The investigation usually takes a few weeks.
Can I switch to a different utility company?
No. SMUD is a municipal utility, which means it is the only electricity provider in its service area. You cannot choose a different company for electricity. If you have natural gas, your provider depends on your address — some areas have Southwest Gas, others have PG&E — but you also cannot switch between them.
How do I know if time-of-use rates would save me money?
SMUD's website has a rate comparison tool that shows what your bill would be under different rate schedules. You can also call SMUD's customer service and ask them to run a comparison based on your usage history. If you shift most of your usage to off-peak hours (early morning, late evening, or night), time-of-use rates usually save money.
What happens if I cannot pay my bill?
Call SMUD at 1-888-742-7683 before your bill is due. They offer budget billing, payment plans, and a hardship program. If you are 60 or older, disabled, or a veteran, you may also be may be able to access for a permanent rate discount. SMUD works with customers to avoid disconnection, but you have to reach out first.
How long does it take to set up automatic payments?
Automatic payments can be set up immediately through SMUD's online portal or by phone. The first payment usually processes on the due date of your next bill. Make sure to keep enough money in your bank account on that date, or the payment may fail and trigger a late fee.