Sign up before September 30, when utility disconnections can resume
Berkeley, California (Friday, September 10, 2021) - Sign up soon for a new state program to help reduce up to $8,000 in unpaid balances on your PG&E bill - and keep your power on after Sept. 30, the last day of a statewide ban on disconnecting gas and electricity.
If you have unpaid bills of at least $500 that are at least three months overdue, the program only requires you to pay your current usage going forward for the next 12 months.
With each on-time payment, 1/12th of your past bill is forgiven. Your power stays on and up to $8,000 of your debt will be cleared.
East Bay Community Energy and PG&E residential customers should sign up before Sept. 30 by calling (800) 743-5000. Learn more about this plan, which is known as the Arrearage Management Plan, on PG&E's website.
Eligibility requirements to qualify
The plan is open to residential customers who meet all the following eligibility requirements:
- Are enrolled in one of PG&E's financial assistance programs, CARE or FERA
- Owe at least $500 or more on their gas and electric bill
- Are more than 90 days past due
- Are a current PG&E customer of at least six months and have made at least one on-time payment
Please note: Solar net energy metering, master-metered customers, and master-metered customers with sub-metered tenants are currently not eligible to participate.
On Oct. 1, utility disconnections from unpaid bills can resume
During the pandemic, the California Public Utilities Commission directed utilities, including PG&E, to stop disconnecting customers who cannot pay their bills. This moratorium ends on September 30.
Energy customers in Berkeley will need to begin paying outstanding balances or risk having their service disconnected.
Sign up today by calling (800) 743-5000 to catch up on your unpaid electric and gas bills and avoid service disruption!
