To provide additional financial assistance to more households with past-due energy bills, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announces it is modifying guidelines midyear for the Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help program. REACH and REACH Triple Match help qualifying low- to moderate-income customers pay their past-due energy bills and help prevent service disconnections.
“We want to ensure more customers have the support they need to get their energy bills back on track,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E senior vice president, 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.”
Based on recent customer data, PG&E anticipates approximately 65,000 more customers can qualify for REACH and REACH Triple Match assistance under the new guidelines.
PG&E has provided more than $17.2 million in financial assistance to more than 25,000 income-eligible customers through REACH and REACH Triple Match since January.
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. Information on how to apply is available online. PG&E shares the following details about expanded benefits and eligibility:
- Bill credit doubled: The maximum customer bill credit that can be applied to a past-due balance has increased from $1,000 to $2,000 for REACH and REACH Triple Match, as long as the total is not higher than the customer’s past due amount.
- Increased income limit: A larger pool of income-eligible customers now qualifies for REACH Triple Match, which provides a 3-to-1 match on customer payments of $50 or more to further reduce an unpaid balance. For example, a family of four making up to $156,000/year could qualify for assistance. Income limits for REACH and REACH Triple Match are set at different thresholds and both use federal income guidelines.
- Past-due balance amount: Qualifying customers can now participate in the program regardless of their past due balance, which was previously capped at $2,000, and customers on a payment plan are also now eligible.
- 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.
Dollar Energy Fund
PG&E recently contributed $55 million to support the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund, marking an expansion of the REACH program. This contribution is funded through PG&E and not customer rates. DEF operates separately from PG&E.
DEF, a nonprofit entity, administers the funding for the REACH program, operating 170 offices across Northern and Central California. PG&E customers, including those in need of in-language support or help with their applications, can contact an agency in their county or apply online at www.hardshiptools.org/MyApp. Applicants can also call 1-800-933-9677 for assistance.
Other income-eligible assistance programs
PG&E also offers the following assistance programs to help eligible customers pay their energy bills:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on electricity bills. New federal income eligibility guidelines apply.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance provides a monthly discount of 18% on electricity for households of three or more people. New federal income eligibility guidelines apply.
- Energy Savings Assistance provides energy-savings improvements at no charge. New federal income eligibility guidelines apply.
- Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,000 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.
- Medical Baseline offers a lower monthly rate for customers with certain medical conditions.
Information provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
