EXHIBIT 23

                      [LETTERHEAD OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP]

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
report dated February 8, 1999, incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, into
the Company's previously filed registration statements as follows: (1) PG&E
Corporation's Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 333-16255 (relating to
PG&E Corporation's Dividend Reinvestment Plan); (2) Pacific Gas and Electric
Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 33-64136 (relating to
$2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's
First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds and Medium-Term Notes); (3) Pacific Gas and
Electric Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 33-50707 (relating
to $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company's First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds); (4) PG&E Corporation's Form S-8
Registration Statement File No. 33-50601 (relating to the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company Savings Fund Plan for Employees); (5) PG&E Corporation's 
Form S-8 Registration Statement File No. 33-23692 (relating to PG&E
Corporation's 1986 Stock Option Plan); (6) Pacific Gas and Electric Company's
Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 33-62488 (relating to 10,000,000 shares
of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Redeemable First Preferred Stock); (7)
Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 33-61959 (relating to $335,000,000)
aggregate liquidation value of Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities); (8) PG&E Corporation's Form S-8 Registration Statement File No. 
333-16253 (relating to PG&E Corporation's Long-Term Incentive Program), (9) PG&E
Corporation's Form S-3 Registration Statement File No.333-25685 (relating to the
resale of PG&E Corporation shares held by certain shareholders), (10) PG&E
Corporation's Post-Effective Amendment on Form S-8 to Form S-4 Registration
Statement File No. 333-27015 (relating to Valero Energy Corporation Stock Option
Plan No. 4, Valero Energy Corporation Stock Option Plan No. 5, and Valero Energy
Corporation Executive Stock Incentive Plan), (11) PG&E Corporation's Form S-8
Registration Statement File No. 333-33657 (relating to PG&E Gas Transmission,
Texas Corporation Savings Fund Plan), (12) PG&E Corporation's Form S-8
Registration Statement File No. 333-68155 (relating to PG&E Gas Transmission,
Northwest Corporation Savings Fund Plan for Non-Management Employees, PG&E Gas
Transmission, Northwest Corporation Savings Fund Plan for Management Employees,
and (13) PG&E Corporation's Form S-8 Registration Statement File No. 333-69437
(relating to PG&E Energy Services Retirement Plan, U.S. Generating Company
401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan, and U.S. Generating Company 401(k) Profit-Sharing
Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees.

/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

San Francisco, California 
     March 5, 1999