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REACH Program - Dollar Energy Fund
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REACH Program - Dollar Energy Fund

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Category
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Financial Assistance
Utility Bills
Energy Program
Eligibility
low‑income households (≤200 % of federal poverty level), seniors 62 + years, residential single‑family homes or apartments (including Section 8/government‑subsidized housing) with an outstanding utility balance of at least $100 (or $50 for seniors)
Auto Summary
REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) pays down a past-due PG&E bill with up to $800 credited directly to your account (plus $100 if hardship is tied to a declared natural disaster). One grant per calendar year. Eligibility: PG&E residential customer with a disconnection notice, past-due balance ≥$100 ($50 for seniors 62+), household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (~$64,300/yr for a family of four), and total past-due under $2,000. Not for deposits or reconnect fees. Apply via Dollar Energy Fund's MyApp portal or a local intake agency.
Value
$1,000
Espanol
Programa REACH - Fondo de Energía Dollar
URL
https://www.dollarenergy.org/program/pge-reach-program/#:~:text=The%20maximum%20grant%20amount%20an,to%20pay%20past%20due%20amounts
2026 update: PG&E increased the maximum REACH bill credit to $800 (up from $300 in 2025) and committed $50 million to REACH + Match My Payment for the year. Source: PG&E press release, Jan 27 2026.

What this is

REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) is a one-time-per-year grant that pays down a past-due PG&E bill. PG&E funds it; Dollar Energy Fund administers the application and writes the credit directly to your PG&E account.
It is not cash. The money never touches you — it lands on your utility bill.

Who qualifies (2026)

  • You're a PG&E residential customer (single home or apartment with its own meter — no shared-meter apartments, no commercial accounts).
  • You have a past-due balance of at least $100 ($50 if you're 62 or older).
  • You have received a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice from PG&E. As of 2026, this notice is required up front.
  • Total household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (roughly $64,300/yr for a family of four — Dollar Energy income calculator).
  • The account name matches an adult living in the home.
  • You're not currently enrolled in PG&E's Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) — AMP customers are ineligible for REACH.

What you get

  • Up to $800 credited to your PG&E account.
  • Extra $100 available if your hardship is tied to a declared natural disaster.
  • Once per calendar year, and only against past-due charges. Cannot be used for security deposits, reconnect fees, closed accounts, or transferred balances.

How to apply

  1. Gather: PG&E account number, the disconnection notice, photo ID, and income proof (pay stubs, benefits letter, or tax return) for everyone in the household.
  1. Apply online through Dollar Energy's MyApp portal, or
  1. Call a local intake agency — find one with the Agency Finder. In Nevada County, the local 211 line can route you to the right agency.
Approval is need-based and case-by-case; not every applicant who qualifies on paper gets the full $800.

Worth knowing

  • Match My Payment is a separate, parallel PG&E program: it matches your own payments dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. If you can pay something but not everything, ask about that one too — same $50M pool, different mechanism.
  • Past-due balances over $2,000 are automatically denied. You'd need to bring the balance down under $2,000 first, then reapply.
  • REACH does not help with deposits or reconnection fees — if your power is already off, call PG&E first about reconnection terms, then apply for REACH against the past-due amount.
Primary source: Dollar Energy Fund — PG&E REACH (verified 2026-05-17).