OAKLAND, CA (MPG) – Pacific Gas and Electric Company is committing $50 million in 2026 to help customers pay overdue energy bills through its Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help and Match My Payment programs.
PG&E is expanding REACH benefits this year. Eligible customers can receive up to an $800 bill credit, an increase from up to $300 last year, if they have received a disconnection notice.
Match My Payment matches eligible customer payments dollar for dollar, up to $1,000. Payments must be at least $50 toward a past-due balance of $100 or more. Customers may receive multiple matches during the year. A disconnection notice is not required to qualify.
REACH recipients are also prequalified for up to $1,000 on a past-due balance through Match My Payment, for a combined benefit of up to $1,800 while funds last.
Eligibility for both programs is based on federal income guidelines. For example, a family of four earning less than $128,600 may qualify for the Match My Payment program, which has higher income limits than the REACH program.
In 2025, the two programs provided approximately $23 million in assistance to more than 64,000 customers.
“We receive heartfelt messages from our customers every day about how much these programs mean to them,” said Vincent Davis, chief customer officer and senior vice president of customer experience. “These stories remind us of the real impact our programs have on the lives of our customers, and we are committed to continuing to make a difference.”
Both programs are funded by PG&E and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The company contracts with the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund to process customer applications.
PG&E also offers additional programs for income-eligible customers, including the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, which provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and an average of 38% on electricity, and the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, which provides an 18% monthly discount on electricity regardless of household size.
Other programs include the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which offers a one-time payment of up to $1,500 on past-due bills, the Arrearage Management Plan, a debt forgiveness option for eligible customers, and the Energy Savings Assistance program, which provides energy-saving improvements at no charge.
Additional assistance includes the Medical Baseline program, which offers bill reductions for customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. More information is available at pge.com/billhelp.