Martinez PG&E Customers Automatically Enrolled In Payment Plans

MARTINEZ, CA — PG&E customers in Martinez and beyond who have past-due balances will be auto-enrolled in new extended payment arrangements by the end of September, the utility company announced.

The new program coincides with the ending of the service-disconnection moratorium which was part of the COVID-19 emergency customer protections in place since March 2020.

Residential and small business customers with a PG&E bill at least 60 days past due will automatically be enrolled over the next few weeks starting with their September bill, company officials said in a Sept. 2 news release.

"We are here to help customers during these times of increasing financial hardships," said Marlene Santos, PG&E executive vice president and chief customer officer. "We want as many customers who are eligible to take advantage of these programs. Even as COVID-19 customer protections come to an end, our support won’t. The new payment plans were created to assist customers pay down their past-due balance over time and protect them from disconnection of service due to non-payment."

The monthly payment plan amount for residential customers will be their outstanding balance equally divided over 24 months. For example, if a residential customer owes $1,200, the payment arrangement would be $50 a month. Payment installations for small business customers will be calculated based on no more than 10 percent of their average bill — 5 percent for customers in certain disadvantaged communities — over the past 24 months.

To view the amount of their payment plan installations, customers can sign into their PG&E account online. It will also be on their monthly energy statement under the Account Summary section.

According to the news release, residential customers who miss more than two payments, and small business customers who miss one payment within a 12-month period, will be removed from the payment plan.

"As a last resort, gas and/or electric service may be disrupted approximately 45 days later unless payment is received," company officials said. "Disconnection of service is an action that PG&E does not take lightly. Customers having a hard time paying their bills should contact PG&E immediately at (800) 743-5000."

The company said automatic enrollment in the new payment plan program will not change enrollment in the following financial assistance programs:

• 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.

To learn more about additional resources and financial assistance programs visit pge.com/covid19 or call 800-743-5000. Financial resources for business customers are available here.