PG&E Provides Over $50 Million in Bill Support to Customers Through REACH Program in 2024, Additional CARE & FERA Discounts Available to Qualifying Customers

Rhea-AI Summary

PG&E has provided over $50 million in financial assistance to nearly 58,000 customers through the REACH program in 2024. The program increased maximum customer bill credits from $500 to $2,000 and introduced a 3-to-1 match on customer bill payments. Fresno County received the highest distribution with $9.8 million across 13,743 approved applications. The company is now promoting additional support through CARE and FERA programs, which provided nearly $1 billion in customer bill reductions in 2023. CARE offers 20%+ monthly discounts on gas and electricity, while FERA provides 18% monthly electricity discounts for larger households.

Positive

• Distributed $50 million in financial assistance to 58,000 customers through REACH program
• Increased maximum bill credits from $500 to $2,000
• Provided nearly $1 billion in customer bill reductions through CARE and FERA in 2023

Negative

• REACH program funding was fully utilized by September 2024
• Program will return to lower standard benefit level of $300 per household in 2025

Insights

Financial Analyst

PG&E's $50 million REACH program expansion demonstrates significant commitment to customer support and regulatory compliance. The program's increased benefit cap from $500 to $2,000 per customer marks a substantial enhancement in assistance levels. Combined with the CARE and FERA programs that provided nearly $1 billion in customer savings in 2023, these initiatives help mitigate customer payment defaults and strengthen PG&E's revenue stability.

The strategic distribution across high-need counties like Fresno ($9.8 million) and Kern ($5.7 million) shows effective targeting of assistance where most needed. This proactive approach to managing customer debt and maintaining service accessibility could positively impact PG&E's financial health by reducing bad debt provisions and improving cash flow predictability.

Utility Policy Expert

The comprehensive assistance strategy through multiple programs (REACH, CARE, FERA, LIHEAP) positions PG&E favorably with regulators and demonstrates strong ESG commitment. The 20% discount through CARE and 18% through FERA, combined with the expanded REACH program, creates a robust safety net for vulnerable customers. This multi-layered approach helps maintain service reliability while addressing energy affordability concerns, important factors in regulatory compliance and rate case negotiations.

Nearly 58,000 Customers Received REACH Benefits in 2024; Customers are Encouraged to Check Eligibility and Apply for CARE & FERA

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 58,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers received more than $50 million in total financial assistance this year from the Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program. Now, PG&E is raising awareness of other income-eligible support programs including California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA). PG&E is encouraging customers who may qualify to check their eligibility and apply for a monthly bill discount here.  

The record REACH program assistance comes after PG&E's $55 million contribution to expand benefits in 2024. PG&E partners with the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) to administer the REACH program. Maximum customer bill credits were increased from $500 to $2,000, and a larger pool of income-eligible customers qualified for a 3-to-1 match on customers bill payments of $50 or more to further reduce an unpaid balance with REACH Triple Match. 

The largest number of approved customer applications and funding for REACH and REACH Triple Match was distributed in the following five counties:

County	Approved Customer Applications (REACH & REACH Triple Match)	Funds Distributed (REACH & REACH Triple Match)
Fresno	13,743	$9,809,543
Kern	8,164	$5,722,582
San Joaquin	7,529	$5,243,245
Contra Costa	5,860	$3,847,391
Alameda	5,145	$2,975,949

Funding for the REACH program was fully utilized in September. In January 2025, PG&E expects to re-open the REACH program at the standard benefit level of up to $300 per household a year.

"Service is central to our mission, and we want our customers to know about the various bill support programs that can help provide them with immediate relief," said Vincent Davis, PG&E Senior Vice President, Customer Experience. "Customers who qualify for REACH may also qualify for the CARE and FERA programs, which reduced customer bills by almost $1 billion in 2023. We encourage eligible customers to apply for the available support." 

CARE & FERA Programs

The CARE and FERA programs provide a monthly discount for income-qualified households and share one application. However, each program offers a different type of energy discount and has different eligibility guidelines: 

• CARE: provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity bills. 
• FERA: provides a monthly discount of 18% on electricity for households of three or more people.

Other Income-Eligible Assistance Programs

PG&E has other assistance programs to help income-eligible customers pay their energy bills: 

• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): 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. Over 58,000 PG&E customers have received nearly $49 million in LIHEAP funding so far this year. 
• Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): a debt forgiveness plan for eligible residential customers.

Other programs include Medical Baseline, which offers a lower monthly rate for customers with certain medical conditions.  

To learn more about PG&E's energy-saving programs to help lower your bills, visit Save Energy & Money. 

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 sixteen 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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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

How much financial assistance did PG&E (PCG) provide through REACH in 2024?

PG&E provided over $50 million in financial assistance through the REACH program in 2024, benefiting nearly 58,000 customers.

What are the maximum bill credits available through PG&E's (PCG) REACH program in 2024?

In 2024, PG&E increased the maximum bill credits from $500 to $2,000 through the REACH program.

What discount does PG&E's (PCG) CARE program offer?

PG&E's CARE program offers a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity bills for income-qualified households.

Which county received the most REACH program funding from PG&E (PCG) in 2024?

Fresno County received the highest REACH program funding of $9.8 million, with 13,743 approved customer applications.