Compare Utility Providers in Oakland, CA

Top 2 Electric Providers in Oakland

Top 11 Natural Gas Providers in Oakland

Top 10 Internet Providers in Oakland

*Not all internet providers and speeds available in all areas.

Water & Sewage Providers in Oakland

Top 7 Trash and Recycling Providers in Oakland

Utilities Summary for Oakland, CA

Electric Companies:	2
Natural Gas Companies:	11
Water & Sewage Providers:	1
Garbage, Trash & Recycling Providers:	7
Municipal Electricity:	Yes

Oakland Utility Setup Made Easy. Electric, Gas, Water, Trash & Internet Providers

Oakland is a vibrant, culturally rich city in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its diversity, thriving arts scene, and scenic views of both the bay and surrounding hills. Popular neighborhoods like Rockridge, Temescal, and Grand Lake offer charming cafes, boutiques, and easy access to public transit, while Montclair and Oakmore boast hillside homes and tranquil settings. The city’s unique mix of historic architecture, modern development, and green spaces like Lake Merritt make it a dynamic place to call home. Oakland’s proximity to San Francisco and Berkeley, combined with its own strong identity, means residents enjoy the best of both big-city energy and neighborhood charm.

Electric Service

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the primary electric utility serving Oakland. Known for its comprehensive customer tools, PG&E offers an easy-to-use website and mobile app that let you start or stop service, view real-time energy usage, set usage alerts, and pay bills. The app also includes outage updates and energy savings tips.

Energy Conservation & Sustainability

PG&E actively supports renewable energy adoption through its Solar Choice and Regional Renewable Choice programs, which allow customers to source some or all of their electricity from solar power without installing panels. They also promote time-of-use rate plans that reward shifting usage to off-peak hours.

Energy Efficiency Rebates

PG&E offers a wide range of rebates for residential customers, including:

• Smart Thermostats: up to $75
• Energy Star Appliances: variable rebates (e.g., $50–$200 for refrigerators)
• Lighting: discounts on qualifying LED bulbs at participating retailers
• Heat Pump Water Heaters: up to $3,800
• Weatherization Upgrades: rebates for insulation and air sealing

More details and applications can be found on PG&E’s Energy Savings Rebate Portal.

Natural Gas Service

PG&E also provides natural gas service in Oakland. Like with electric service, their mobile app offers account management, outage updates, and safety information.

Deregulation in California

Natural gas service in California is partially deregulated, which means that while PG&E delivers the gas, customers can choose an alternative gas supplier for the commodity portion of their bill. The delivery infrastructure remains PG&E’s responsibility.

Top Alternative Gas Providers

1. Spark Energy: Known for competitive fixed-rate natural gas plans and straightforward pricing.
2. Xoom Energy: Offers flexible rate options, including month-to-month and longer-term contracts.
3. Ambit Energy: Provides loyalty rewards and referral incentives in addition to natural gas service.

Tips for Choosing a Provider

• Compare rate type (fixed vs. variable) and contract length.
• Check early termination fees before signing a long-term deal.
• Look for promotions or rewards programs that can add value.

Energy Efficiency Rebates for Gas

PG&E’s gas efficiency incentives include:

• High-Efficiency Furnaces: up to $600
• Tankless Water Heaters: up to $500
• Insulation & Duct Sealing: $0.15–$0.30 per square foot
• Smart Thermostats: up to $75

Water Service

East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) supplies water to Oakland, sourcing much of it from the pristine Mokelumne River watershed in the Sierra Nevada. The district is known for delivering high-quality drinking water and for its strong conservation ethic.

Water Conservation Rebates

• High-Efficiency Toilets: up to $50
• High-Efficiency Clothes Washers: up to $150
• Landscape Conversion: rebates for replacing lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping (up to $2 per square foot)

EBMUD also offers free water-saving devices like faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.

Trash & Recycling

Oakland’s waste services are split between two primary providers: Waste Management (WM) handles trash and compost pickup, while California Waste Solutions (CWS) is responsible for residential recycling collection. This partnership helps the city meet its ambitious waste diversion goals and maintain a robust recycling program.

Waste Management provides weekly trash and compost collection, plus bulky item pickup by request. Their WM mobile app allows you to check pickup schedules, set reminders, and report missed collections. Compost service includes yard trimmings and food scraps, helping Oakland divert organic waste from landfills.

California Waste Solutions focuses exclusively on recycling services, collecting materials like paper, cardboard, glass, certain plastics, and metals. They operate their own processing facilities to ensure recyclables are sorted and sent to appropriate markets. CWS also offers community outreach and education programs to improve recycling participation and reduce contamination.

Pickup Details

• Trash (WM): weekly curbside pickup
• Compost/Green Waste (WM): weekly pickup for food scraps and yard trimmings
• Recycling (CWS): weekly pickup for eligible materials, with clear bin guidelines provided to residents

Sustainability Initiatives

Oakland has one of the most comprehensive compost and recycling programs in the Bay Area, aiming for a Zero Waste future. WM and CWS work with the city to increase recycling rates, educate residents, and reduce landfill waste.

Best Internet Providers in Oakland

Oakland has strong internet connectivity, with both fiber and cable options in many neighborhoods.

1. AT&T: Offers fiber internet to about 95% of the city with speeds up to 5 Gbps in some areas, plus DSL in others.
2. Xfinity: Cable internet with speeds up to 2 Gbps, plus TV and home phone bundles. If you live in Oakland there’s a 98% chance you can get Xfinity.
3. T-Mobile Home Internet: 5G wireless home internet with no annual contracts and nationwide coverage.

When choosing a provider, availability may vary by neighborhood, so it’s best to check your address.

Citywide Conservation & Sustainability Programs

Oakland has made significant commitments to environmental stewardship, aiming to be a leader in waste reduction, clean energy, and community resilience.

Zero Waste Goal

The City of Oakland has set an ambitious Zero Waste goal, aiming to divert 90% of landfill waste by 2030. This effort relies on strong recycling and composting programs, education initiatives, and partnerships with providers like Waste Management and California Waste Solutions. Residents are encouraged to separate recyclables, compost organic waste, and reduce overall consumption.

• Oakland Green Business Program: Recognizes and supports sustainable business practices.
• Bay Area SunShares: A group-buying program for solar installation and battery storage.
• City of Oakland Climate Action Plan: Community-wide initiatives to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy.

Financial Assistance for Utility Bills in Oakland

Provider Programs

• PG&E CARE Program: 20-35% discount on energy bills for eligible low-income households.
• PG&E FERA Program: Discounts for households slightly above CARE income limits.
• EBMUD Customer Assistance Program: 50% discount on water service charges for qualifying customers.

City/Community Programs

• Oakland Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): Emergency help for overdue water bills.
• City Energy Assistance Fund: Partnered with nonprofits to help residents in crisis.

State Programs

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): Statewide utility bill discount program.
• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Federal funding administered by the state for energy bill help and weatherization services.

Oakland Internet Connectivity

Fastest Internet Providers in Oakland

Oakland Drinking Water Quality Information

Clean drinking water is essential for maintaining good health and overall well-being. Safe, contaminant-free water helps prevent the spread of diseases, supports proper hydration, and ensures the body's vital functions operate smoothly.