SAN FRANCISCO–Some customers of the giant utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) are not just seeing their utilities bills rising, but it’s costing them more to use a credit card to pay each month.

The company said that beginning next month, it will charge its residential customers who use a card a flat $6.95 fee.

The company says the transaction fees for credit and debit card payments are increasing due to higher vendor costs, according to Fox 26. 

Those using a commercial credit card will be charged almost 2% of the payment amount.

According to PG&E, customers can avoid transaction fees by signing up for recurring payments or by logging into their PG&E account to use the one-time payment option with their checking or savings account.

Additional Details

Transaction fees will only if customers pay with their bank account by phone or use the one-time feature without logging into their PG&E account, the news outlet added.

PG&E told Fox 26 it does not profit from transaction fees.

The director of the Utility Reform Network told FOX26 the last thing PG&E customers is to be charged an additional fee just for paying their bills.