PG&E Partnering with the State on Implementation of New Program to Help Customers Reduce Past Due Energy Bill Balances Accrued During the Pandemic

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced a continuation of the pause on energy service disconnections through 2021, despite the formal end of a moratorium initiated by the California Public Utilities Commission in March 2020. The utility is automatically enrolling residential and small business customers with overdue balances in extended payment plans. Additionally, PG&E is collaborating with the Department of Community Services and Development on the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP), which will allocate $1 billion to assist customers with pandemic-related energy debts.

Positive

• PG&E will not resume energy disconnections for nonpayment in 2021, providing financial relief to customers.
• Over 450,000 customers have been automatically enrolled in extended payment plans, aiding those with past due balances.
• The California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) is set to provide $1 billion in federal funding to assist eligible customers.

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• None.

Energy Service Disconnections for Non-Payment Will Continue to Be Paused, Now Through End of 2021

PG&E Automatically Enrolling All Residential and Small Business Customers with Past Due Balances Over 60 days in New Extended Payment Arrangements

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As part of our ongoing comprehensive efforts to help customers financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today service disconnections will not resume this year. The moratorium on energy service disconnections put in place by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in March 2020 is formally ending today but service disconnections will not resume in 2021.

PG&E is automatically enrolling all residential and small business customers with past due balances over 60 days in new extended payment arrangements. We are also closely monitoring the development and implementation of the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) included in the 2021-22 California State Budget. As part of the CAPP process, PG&E will not resume disconnections for residential and commercial customers eligible for CAPP until the CAPP program is finalized.

“We’ve been partnering with local, state and utility leaders to ensure our customers in need have access to critical assistance as the impacts of the pandemic continue to evolve and the statewide disconnection moratorium ends today. PG&E will not immediately start shutting off service for nonpayment,” said Marlene Santos, PG&E executive vice president and chief customer officer.

The newly established CAPP program will offer financial assistance for California energy utility customers to help reduce past due energy bill balances accrued during the pandemic. Administered by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), the CAPP program dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts incurred from March 4, 2020, to June 15, 2021.

Utility customers do not need to apply to receive assistance under the CAPP program. If a customer’s account is eligible — 60 days or more behind on payments — a credit will be automatically applied to some or all the customer’s bill, depending on availability of funds and the combined needs of all utility customers.

For months, PG&E has been working closely with CSD on program implementation details. PG&E anticipates CAPP funding to be applied directly to eligible customers’ accounts in the first quarter of 2022.

To coincide with the end of the moratorium today, PG&E has also automatically enrolled more than 450,000 eligible residential and small business customers in the new COVID-19 payment plan program this month. The newly established program automatically enrolls eligible customers who are 60 days past due in extended payment plans. Customers will be automatically enrolled on an ongoing basis based on eligibility through September 2022 to avoid service disconnections. Customers automatically enrolled in the new extended payment plans will be eligible for CAPP funding.

Ways for Customers to Save on Energy Bills

We encourage customers struggling to pay their bills to learn more about the following programs. Some customers can enroll in various programs without impacting eligibility for the extended payment plan or CAPP funding:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers up to $1,000 to pay eligible household energy costs.
• Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) Program offers one-time financial assistance to qualified customers with past-due bills.
• Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) offers up to $8,000 in unpaid balance forgiveness, if a customer is enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program (FERA), owes a specific bill amount and are more than 90 days past due.
• PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program as well as various external programs such as the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Act helps income-eligible households pay rent and utilities, both for past due and future payments. Renters and landlords are eligible to apply.

PG&E remains committed to providing support for customers during this transition, and we are here to help. Customers having a hard time paying their bills should contact PG&E immediately at (800) 743-5000 or visit pge.com/covid19. Financial resources for business customers are available here.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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MEDIA RELATIONS:

415-973-5930

Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is PG&E's policy on service disconnections for non-payment in 2021?

PG&E will not resume energy service disconnections for non-payment in 2021, continuing to support customers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What assistance is available for PG&E customers with overdue balances?

PG&E is automatically enrolling eligible residential and small business customers with past due balances over 60 days in extended payment plans.

How much funding is available through the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP)?

The CAPP has allocated $1 billion in federal funding to assist California energy utility customers with debts incurred during the pandemic.

When will the funding from the CAPP be available to customers?

PG&E anticipates that CAPP funding will begin to be applied directly to eligible customers' accounts in the first quarter of 2022.

How many customers have been enrolled in PG&E's new payment plan program?

PG&E has automatically enrolled more than 450,000 eligible residential and small business customers in the new COVID-19 payment plan program this month.