PG&E bill - How can I get help with it?

[Richard and Sal]

I need to pay my PG&E bill, I was able to pay my bills with my SSI benefits and the income I was receiving for my granddaughter but she turned 18 this past December and the Department of Human Resources Service stopped her CalWORKs cash aid in May. They stopped it even though she's still doing her schoolwork online 2 to 8 pm so she can graduate in January 2027. I'm barely making ends meet with just my SSI and I'm so behind on my pg&e and need help with it.

[Gregory Miller]

Hello,
I am seeking information and/or assistance with a "onetime payment" to help pay my PG&E utility bill down. I am a Disabled Veteran and don’t qualify for PG&E's CARE - HEAP Program because I receive VA disability benefits however by the time I pay rent, auto insurance, water, electricity bill (PG&E), car payment, phone, internet, and buy some groceries which I hold my breath every time I go to the store so I don’t over spend.
I usually end up with very little to get by until the end of the month. I can't save and if I do it very little. I don’t have anything put aside for emergencies. I have been trying to move for a long time and because of the affordable housing situation in CA it has been difficult for me to find anything. I even own my own home or afford to do so. My water bill is over $80 a month because the city charges $40 for sewage and $30 for them to "process" the paperwork and then charge for water.
I don’t live extravagantly. I rarely eat out or go to the movies, or spend money on myself for nice haircut, manicure/pedicure or clothes. I am in the worse shape I have ever been in because I am depressed and can't move forward to try and better my life. I am not from this area where I grew up in Southern CA where all my friends and relatives are.
I pay my bills first thing every 1st of the month because those are priorities and I am a responsible person/consumer and whatever is left at the end of the month isn’t very much.
Last winter I tried to use space heater that caused my PG&E to skyrocket. I thought I would be saving money, which proved to be wrong. I also do not qualify for the Weatherization program - as a renter I am not responsible for leaky windows and weather stripping around the doors and windows. This place has vaulted ceiling, and it never cools off upstairs in the Summer and the noise from traffic from the freeways is terrible.
I have tried to keep my bill down by taping off the doorways and placing insulation in the windows to keep the heat cold out. I don’t even run my A/C in fear of running my bill up. I shouldn't have to live like this. The owner who lives in San Francisco has not put any money into this place and unfortunately, I am the one suffering from it.
Please contact me. I am just asking for a one-time payment to help me pay down the bill. Thank you very much.

[Handler]

HI. I am a single mom of 6 children. I had heart surgery along with other illnesses I have. And is unemployed and living on a fixed income. One of my 6 children is severely autistic and nonverbal. Four of my children plus myself are asthmatics. I have a PGE bill that is due to be shut off any day but no more than 48 hours. Can someone assist myself and my family how to go about getting help. I called 211 and made phone calls to a numerous number of places but had no luck...can someone please help my family. we will be without power (electricity) any day now...Thank you in advance (single mom 6 children 2 disabled and 5 asthmatics) 

[Newcomer]

Hello -
I applied for LIHEAP, but I have gotten no response. What needs to happen now?
I have a bill from PG&E for $600.39. My husband and I are both unemployed. Do you need our PG&E account #, and can we get LIHEAP?
There are just 2 people in our household. Is that a problem?

[Denise234]

Hi my name is George Robnett, I need financial help paying off some of these bills including PG&E with a 48 hour disconnect notice. Where I live (Vandenberg village) where all the residence pay a percentage of water in addition to our rent. Me and my elderly mother are having a hard meeting these deadlines. W owe PG & E as well as a 700 water bill. I've been doing my best on catching up but what we can and do pay still haven't caught up. I am also my mother's caretaker so I need these important utilities to be on when needed thank you.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Are you in Oregon? PG&E there? Is so, there is assistance for utility bills in Portland Oregon. Find details here.
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/htm ... _assi.html

[Rella]

Hello, my name is Kaitlyn and I have a 3 month old baby. My PGE was just shut off and I've been having financial issues starting with the property I am renting. It was just sold in a foreclosure without my knowledge and so I am struggling to find a new place to rent and get my PGE bill paid. Next the property that I am renting from has a mail room and they had changed the code and I cannot get access to any of my mail. Well today they just shut off my PGE after I have asked many times for payment arrangements because I have not received a bill in over 6 months. Then out of nowhere just last month I get a bill for my electricity. I've been trying to work with them but with all that is going on and a brand new baby. I can only keep up with so much and I have been trying to avoid this problem. So, I am reaching out to you today to ask for some help. I just need a little help with getting my electricity turned back on and my PGE bill paid so my son and I are not left in the cold. IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP and GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Kaitlyn

[JennyMay12]

Hello.  I am looking for some assistance with my PGE bill. My husband and I recently have taken in his brother who got let go from his previous job and now we have three people living with one income and are having a difficult time paying our energy bill and making sure we have groceries after paying other bills as well. I would appreciate any help that we can be given. Thank you for your time. Have a great day and God bless.

[Maxies Snuggle]

My PG&E bill is over $500. I'm unable
To pay my husband and I are separated and I need some help paying these
Bills while I'm living here and if you can help me really appreciate that.
Thank you, I’m unable to work I tried getting disability several times but
It has been denied and I'm under a doctor's care and I have the medical
Baseline program but it's still more than I can handle and if I can’t pay
It will be disconnected. Thank you.
Sincerely,

[Leadingup]

Hello, I take care of a 72 year old woman who has a $4,500 pg&e bill. She was literally on her death bed about two years ago and her previous care giver went on a shopping spree with her credit card and check book not paying any of the bills. When I first moved in one morning I woke up to a pg&e employee here to disconnect us. Thank god he had a heart so he called his supervisor and he didn't disconnect us.
So I called and the bill then was around $8,500 but I was able to get us on a two year payment plan we had to pay the current charges along with an extra $400 on top of that. That arrangement went great until the due date was landing a couple days before we the first and if we missed a payment it would break the arrangement. So now in order to even get back on a payment plan which we are happy to do we fully intend on paying the past due charges in about one years’ time.
I managed to drop the bill by almost half. I am extremely nervous because she is on oxygen and we cannot get shut off but pg&e said they will still disconnect us if we don't do something. They told me that in order to even start a payment arrangement we have to make a payment of $1200 to avoid disconnection. We can't come up with that amount of cash. We are also in the process of moving her house was foreclosed on and we have 90 days. Please we need some kind of help she doesn't qualify for any of the assistance programs because ON PAPER she makes too much. I don't know what to do please help.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

We do have assistance programs listed for PGE on the site. But also try California LIHEAP. That may be a great option for you too. They give grants as well as other support.

[SouthernGirl]

Hi, I would like information on help paying my PGE bill. It's 3400 has of right now they want me to pay my regular monthly bill plus another $500 a month from a previous house we lived in where the electric was outrageous that's why we moved. I'm not able to do that and this bill over my head. It is causing major disturbance in my family and my marriage and in my work, I don't know what else to do if you can send me the information I would greatly appreciate it. I am a school bus driver and my husband's mechanic we only bring home about $3,400 a month and we have 3 children so there's 5 of us in the house.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

PG&E does offer payment plans, budgeting, financial aid, and more. Try the assistance programs from PG&E. Call the customer support team at declare a hardship.

[Mnadi]

I am a single mother of two young girls with autism in Tracy California alone with no family. Though it's been a hard struggle doing this alone I believe in my heart it’s a big blessing to have my girls. I need help with my PG&E bill it’s going to be shut off any day now.
I have no car to go to Stockton to turn in my H.E.A.P APP. I've never done this before, so I don’t even know if I’m doing it correctly. I can't have my power shut off because it’s extremely hot and my girls can't survive without the air conditioning to put it bluntly.
I am stressed and have been having anxiety attacks but I've been hiding it from my girls because I don't want them to worry. I have called the power company and made arrangements with them for $150.00 monthly and I am asking for help with that $150. To at least buy me more time so I can find a reliable ride to turn in my H.E.A.P app. Please contact me as soon as you can, thank you for your time sincerely.

[Zach]

I stay in Vallejo CA and I really need help paying my PGE. Its past due and I don't have any money to pay for it.
It's me and my two kids and we don't have any family. I know that's it’s a program in Fairfield but I have no way out there. It cost 10 which I don't have. Is there any way I could get any assistance?

[Declines]

Hello,
Good Evening.
I am asking for help with my PG & E, I thought when my dad died a year and half ago bill was in his name so I let it go. When that after a while I went ahead and tried to apply for Account with PG & E they said that I ALREADY have account with them I was surprised about that my dad never told me PG & E was in my name.
I have until the 10th
Thank you I will try and get extended time...on bill.

[Joe Bucks]

Good Evening,
I filled out paperwork, sent in all the material that was required to get help with my electricity bill that got really high from last winter. I was never able to get it down to a manageable point. I sent proof of income, etc, all that was asked or required at that time.
I am 72 years old. Have a low-vision disability due to a stroke in 2011. I do drive, but very limited to where I go. No freeway, night, or in the rain driving allowed. I sent in the copy of PG & E showing the outstanding amount that I could not pay, and still can’t pay what PG&E are asking all at once. I get my social security, & a stippling from the United States Air-force monthly. All this was shown with proof.
I never heard back from anyone and HEAP did not pay even $50.00, towards my bill. I would have been so thankful if they could have helped me with any amount to bring this balance down. I am unfortunately Caucasian, which does not help. If I were Hispanic, Black or Asian I might have gotten some help. It seems as though minority’s get the help they need every time.
HEAP was such a disappointment for me. I realize that my rent is high, $925.00 per month. Chico is expensive for rent. I have my name on a housing close to where I live that is cheaper to rent, but the waiting list is very long. A wait of a couple of years they say.
HEAP lifts ones hopes up and then lets them down, very depressing indeed.

[Lucent]

I am emailing because I came across some information that you may be able to help me get caught up on some bills. I have a SMUD bill that is slightly under $200.00; a PG & E bill that is due within 48 hours and is under $150.00 and a Comcast bill that is roughly $200.00. I work full time however; my pay was drastically cut in half and finds myself getting behind. If there is any assistance that you can offer me to help me NOT get more behind than I already am, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Did you and family apply for unemployment. Do that for some income. Here are some other options for you. This here is a listing of Fresno County assistance programs and agencies to call for financial assistance and grants. http://needhelppayingbills.com/html/fre ... progr.html
Most energy companies in California also offer grant programs, weatherization, and other services. Those resources can be found here at California utility assistance programs.

help we need help no funds i have 3 children and i live with my dad due to my mother passing last feb.2011 her dieing wish well i lost my job and my husband and father have both been laid off unexpected bills have popped up and now were in a bind we live in fresno ca and our bill is at a 1000.00 dallars i have this 48 hour notice now what can i do to get help anyone your advice is greatly appreciated thank you. and we are on a payment plan already but its set at 250.00 a month

[ashley lowry]

help we need help no funds i have 3 children and i live with my dad due to my mother passing last feb.2011 her dieing wish well i lost my job and my husband and father have both been laid off unexpected bills have popped up and now were in a bind we live in fresno ca and our bill is at a 1000.00 dallars i have this 48 hour notice now what can i do to get help anyone your advice is greatly appreciated thank you. and we are on a payment plan already but its set at 250.00 a month