SHUTOFF NOTICE?Call PG&E at 877-660-6789 before the date on the notice and ask for a payment arrangement. Apply for energy assistance at the same time.
Discount rates and monthly credits
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
- What
- A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).
- Who
- Households that meet the CARE income guidelines or take part in a qualifying public assistance program such as LIHEAP, WIC, CalFresh/SNAP, CalWORKs, SSI or Medi-Cal. The bill must be in your name.
- How
- Apply online, by mail with the CARE/FERA application, or call 1-866-743-5832. Renew every two years (every four years on a fixed income).
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)
- What
- An 18 percent monthly discount on electric rates.
- Who
- Income-qualified households at or below the FERA income guidelines table.
- How
- Apply online with the shared CARE/FERA application, by mail, or call 1-866-743-5832.
Help with a bill you cannot pay
Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH)
- What
- An energy credit up to $800 applied to the past-due part of your bill. Funds are first-come, first-served.
- Who
- Customers with a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice, household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and no REACH help in the same calendar year. AMP customers are not eligible.
- How
- Apply online at the Dollar Energy Fund website, or contact an agency in your county.
Payment plans and more time to pay
Arrearage Management Plan (AMP)
- What
- Up to $8,000 in debt forgiveness. PG&E forgives part of your past-due balance each month you pay on time, over 12 months.
- Who
- CARE or FERA customers who owe at least $500 on gas and electric (or $250 gas-only), are more than 90 days past due, have been customers at least six months, and have made at least one on-time payment.
- How
- Log in to your PG&E account and select AMP program, or call 1-877-660-6789.
Payment plan and due date extension
- What
- Breaks your existing balance into smaller monthly payments, or adds a few days to your due date.
- Who
- Residential gas or electric customers who are not already on a payment plan, AMP or Budget Billing.
- How
- Set it up online under Payment Arrangements, or call 1-877-660-6789.
Budget billing
Budget Billing
- What
- A free program that sets your monthly payment from a rolling average of your energy costs over the past 12 to 13 months.
- Who
- Residential customers not on a NEM rate plan, with a history of on-time, full payments and not on a payment plan.
- How
- Enroll through your online account or the online enrollment form.
Medical needs
Medical Baseline Program
- What
- An extra monthly amount of energy at the lowest price on your rate (roughly 500 kWh of electricity or 25 therms of gas), or a 12% discount (D-Medical) on some rates, plus extra alerts before a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
- Who
- Households where a full-time resident has a qualifying medical condition or uses a qualifying medical device. Not based on income.
- How
- Fill out the online form, then have your doctor complete their part.
Self-Identified Vulnerable Program (SIV)
- What
- Extra notice before power is shut off for nonpayment and extra outreach during Public Safety Power Shutoffs and long outages.
- Who
- Customers whose health or safety would be at risk without gas or electricity and who do not qualify for Medical Baseline.
- How
- Self-enroll in My Account, or call 1-800-743-5000.
Free home energy upgrades
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program
- What
- Free home upgrades and repairs, such as heat pump water heaters, furnaces, lighting and refrigerators, at no charge.
- Who
- Renters and homeowners who meet the income guidelines and live in a house, mobile home or apartment at least five years old.
- How
- Apply online or call 1-800-933-9555.
State energy assistance in California
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP), run by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), helps households with low income pay heating and cooling bills (the federal LIHEAP program). Contact your local energy bill assistance provider (use Find Services In Your Area on the CSD site), or call 2-1-1. Official page.
To see what your bill should be, use the PG&E bill calculator. To lower it, see the plans and the appliance cost tool. All programs: PG&E assistance page.
How can I get help paying my PG&E bill?
Call PG&E before the due date and ask for a payment arrangement, apply for energy assistance, and ask about its discount programs (California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)). This page lists each program with its official link.
Does PG&E have a low-income discount?
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers). Households that meet the CARE income guidelines or take part in a qualifying public assistance program such as LIHEAP, WIC, CalFresh/SNAP, CalWORKs, SSI or Medi-Cal. The bill must be in your name.
utilityratecalc.com is not part of PG&E or a government agency. Programs and amounts change: the official page of each program has the current rules. Checked October 21, 2026.