PG&E utility bill assistance

Pacific Gas and Electric, or PG&E, offers its customers numerous financial assistance programs for paying utility bills. Some are its own programs, and some are run by the federal government or the state of California. PG&E will do their best to work with customers and set up payment plans to help keep the power on, and set up arrangements to get people back on track. Read about your options below.

Federal Government Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Pacific Gas and Electric fully supports this government funded assistance program. LIHEAP is a federally funded energy and utility bill assistance program administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). LIHEAP offers two types of financial assistance to the low income in the community. The components of LIHEAP include financial aid which is made available to help a customer offset the cost of heating or cooling their home, and paying their bills, and crisis assistance. The second option is home weatherization, which is a program that installs energy conserving improvements to peoples homes.

California Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) - The REACH program is a one-time energy bill assistance program sponsored by PG&E and administered through the Salvation Army branches that are located throughout California. The REACH program may be able to provide a one-time bill credit to PG&E customers when the applicant experiences a sudden emergency or some type of crisis that was unplanned for or uncontrollable change in your ability to pay your energy bills. Read more.

 

 

 

 

The CARE program - This program offered by Pacific Gas and Electric provides a monthly discount on customers monthly utility and energy bills. It is only available for low income and other specially qualified households. Qualifications for utility bill assistance are based on the number of persons living in your home and the applicants total annual household income.

FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) - The FERA utility bill assistance program provides a monthly discount on electric bills for income-qualified households. In order to receive aid the PG&E customer must have 3 or more members in their household.

These are just a sampling of the PG&E utility programs. However, call them as they will work with you and may have more options. Call Pacific Gas and Electric at 1-800-PGE-5000.