PG&E expands energy bill assistance for more customers with past-due bills

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently modified specific program guidelines to provide additional financial assistance to more households with past-due energy bills.

“We want to ensure more customers have the support they need to get their energy bills back on track,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E’s senior vice president of Customer Experience. “With a more robust bill credit and broader income eligibility, we can provide greater financial relief to the households that need it most.”

Specifically, PG&E modified guidelines for its Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program, which, along with the company’s REACH Triple Match program, helps eligible low- to moderate-income customers pay their past-due energy bills to avoid service disconnections.

“I understand the hardship currently affecting so many residents who are struggling to pay their bills,” said Fresno, Calif., Mayor Jerry Dyer. “I am hopeful the REACH program can provide some much-needed bill relief to those residents, and policymakers will take actions toward stabilizing energy bills.”

PG&E said that based on recent customer data, roughly 65,000 more customers are expected to qualify for REACH and REACH Triple Match assistance under the new guidelines.

Since January, more than 3,500 applications have been approved in Fresno County, Calif., resulting in more than $2 million in financial assistance, the company said.

PG&E also said that since January, the utility has provided more than $17.2 million in financial assistance to more than 25,000 income-eligible customers through REACH and REACH Triple Match.

Under the expanded benefits, bill credits will be doubled, with the maximum customer bill credit that can be applied to a past-due balance increasing from $1,000 to $2,000 for REACH and REACH Triple Match. The total cannot be higher than a customer’s past-due amount.

There is also an increased income limit so that a larger pool of income-eligible customers can qualify for REACH Triple Match, which provides a three-to-one match on customer payments of $50 or more to further reduce an unpaid balance. Income limits for REACH and REACH Triple Match are set at different thresholds, and both use federal income guidelines, according to PG&E.

Qualifying customers may also now participate in the program regardless of their past-due balance, which was previously capped at $2,000. Customers on a payment plan are also eligible now.

There are also additional benefits available for 2024 recipients. Qualifying customers who already participated in REACH or REACH Triple Match will be offered the opportunity to participate a second time under the new guidelines, with up to a $2,000 total benefit available for 2024.

PG&E said the revised criteria are aimed at helping more customers address high past-due amounts, especially over the hot summer months when energy usage typically peaks.

“Many Fresno residents are already struggling with overdue energy bills and cannot make timely payments,” Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea said. “The REACH program offers crucial relief, ensuring that families in some of the highest poverty areas in the nation can stay cool and safe without sacrificing their basic needs.”

At the same time, PG&E recently contributed $55 million to support the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund (DEF), which operates separately from PG&E and administers funding for the REACH program. The contribution to DEF is funded through PG&E and not customer rates.

PG&E also said it will continue to run its several other assistance programs to help income-eligible customers pay their energy bills.

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