Apply Now: PG&E's Match My Payment Bill-Pay Program Extended, Funds Are Limited

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric (NYSE:PCG) is extending its Match My Payment bill-pay program into 2026 while funds last, after launching the program in June with a $50 million commitment. The program provides a dollar-for-dollar match up to $1,000 for qualifying low-to-moderate income customers to pay past-due energy bills; combined with the REACH grant of up to $300, eligible customers may receive up to $1,300 in relief.

Year-to-date the two programs have distributed nearly $22 million to more than 60,000 customers, with Fresno, Kern, and San Joaquin counties receiving over $9.4 million collectively. Funding is first-come, first-served and applications are processed by Dollar Energy Fund.

Positive

• Company committed $50 million to customer bill relief
• Programs delivered nearly $22 million to >60,000 customers in 2025
• Eligible customers can receive up to $1,300 combined relief

Negative

• Support is available while funds last, creating potential scarcity
• REACH emergency grants require a disconnection notice for eligibility

Key Figures

Max bill relief $1,300 Combined Match My Payment and REACH support per eligible customer

Assistance provided 2025 $22 million Year-to-date aid via Match My Payment and REACH in 2025

Customers helped 2025 60,000+ customers Year-to-date participants in PG&E assistance programs in 2025

Program funding commitment $50 million Total commitment to Match My Payment and related programs

County support total $9.4 million+ Funding distributed in Fresno, Kern, and San Joaquin counties

Income threshold example $128,600 Annual income cap for a family of four under Match My Payment

REACH bill credit $300 Maximum REACH grant toward past-due energy bills

CARE electricity discount 38% Average monthly discount on electricity vs non-CARE bundled customers

Market Reality Check

$15.73 Last Close

Volume Volume 23,155,064 vs 20-day average 26,840,975, running slightly below typical activity. normal

Technical Shares at $15.68, trading just below the $15.70 200-day moving average.

Peers on Argus

PCG was up 2.69% pre-news, while peers showed mixed moves: ED +1.59%, WEC +0.34%, DTE -0.05%, ETR -1.23%, PEG -0.03%, suggesting stock-specific factors rather than a broad utilities move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 12	Dividend declaration	Positive	+2.2%	Q4 2025 common and preferred stock dividends announced with set payment dates.
Dec 11	Grid innovation demo	Positive	-1.7%	Launch of Dynamic Line Rating and Asset Health Monitoring field demonstration.
Nov 19	Wildfire mitigation	Neutral	-2.7%	Update on undergrounding progress and public support amid CPUC guideline concerns.
Nov 18	Scam awareness	Neutral	-2.7%	Customer education on utility scams and reporting channels ahead of awareness day.
Nov 18	Efficiency guidance	Neutral	-2.7%	Holiday energy-efficiency tips and bill-help programs to manage winter usage.

Pattern Detected

Recent company updates, including customer- and reliability-focused news, have produced mixed price reactions, with one dividend announcement aligning positively and several operational or outreach releases seeing mild sell-offs.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, PG&E has reported several operational and customer-focused developments. A Dec 12 dividend declaration for Q4 2025 coincided with a +2.23% move, while a Dec 11 grid innovation demo and November customer outreach and safety campaigns saw modest negative reactions between about -1% and -2.66%. The current announcement extends bill-relief programs into 2026, continuing this pattern of customer assistance initiatives alongside ongoing operational and regulatory priorities detailed in recent SEC filings.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement extends PG&E’s bill-relief efforts into 2026, offering up to $1,300 in combined support for eligible customers and noting nearly $22 million already provided to more than 60,000 customers in 2025. It fits a broader pattern of customer and safety-focused communication seen in recent months. Investors may watch how utilization of the $50 million funding pool evolves, along with ongoing regulatory developments and operational priorities detailed in recent SEC filings.

Key Terms

arrearage management plan financial

"Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): a debt forgiveness plan for eligible residential customers."

An arrearage management plan is a structured program that helps customers catch up on past-due bills by arranging reduced payments, extended repayment terms, partial forgiveness, or temporary credit relief. For investors, it matters because these programs change how quickly money comes in, how much bad debt a company expects, and how regulators allow those costs to be recovered — similar to a lender agreeing to a realistic repayment schedule so a borrower can keep paying without defaulting.

medical baseline medical

"Other programs include Medical Baseline, which offers a reduction on energy bills..."

Medical baseline is the set of health measurements and conditions recorded for a patient or study participant before treatment starts, serving as the starting point against which later changes are judged. For investors, a clear and reliable baseline matters because it determines how convincing a drug or device’s reported benefits and side effects are—think of it as the starting line in a race that lets observers tell whether a treatment genuinely improved outcomes or not.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Eligible Customers May Receive Up to $1,300 in Bill Relief; Nearly $22 Million Provided to More Than 60,000 Customers to Date in 2025

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing effort to support customers facing financial hardship, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is extending its Match My Payment Program. The program will continue into 2026 while funds last.  

The PG&E Match My Payment Program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low-to moderate-income customers to pay past-due energy bills to stop service disconnections.  

PG&E launched the program in June, with a $50 million commitment to provide more ways for income-elgible customers to catch up on outstanding balances. The company is extending it beyond its original December 31, 2025 end date while funds last. The funding supports PG&E's Match My Payment and Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) programs. 

REACH provides income-eligible customers with a bill credit of up to $300 based on the past-due bill. The emergency assistance is available for customers with a disconnection notice.   

Year-to-date, the two PG&E programs have provided nearly $22 million in assistance to over 60,000 customers.  

"We know how challenging it can be for families to keep up with bills in so many aspects of daily life, and we're focused on delivering meaningful support," said Vincent Davis, PG&E Senior Vice President, Customer Experience. "This extension is about giving more customers the help they need so they can keep their home comfortable and safe." 

The three counties with the highest number of approved applications and funding include: Fresno, Kern, and San Joaquin counties, where collectively, PG&E has distributed more than $9.4 million in support. 

PG&E Match My Payment recipients can receive multiple matches throughout the year by paying at least $50 toward a past-due balance of $100 or more. Eligibility is based on federal income guidelines. For example, a family of four earning less than $128,600 annually may qualify, which is double the income limit under the PG&E REACH program. 

Combined Support for REACH Recipients in 2026

Customers who received a $300 REACH grant are pre-qualified for up to $1,000 through Match My Payment, for a combined benefit of up to $1,300, or while funds last. Eligibility follows federal income guidelines, which are lower than those for the PG&E Match My Payment Program. 

Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. PG&E contracts with the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) to process customers' applications for program funding.

Other Income-eligible Assistance Programs  

PG&E has other assistance programs to help income-eligible customers pay their energy bills:  

• California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE): provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and an average of 38% on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers). 
• Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): eligibility guidelines provide a monthly discount of 18% on electricity, regardless of household size.  
• Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA): provides energy-savings improvements at no charge.  
• Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): a debt forgiveness plan for eligible residential customers.   

Other programs include Medical Baseline, which offers a reduction on energy bills for customers who depend on power for certain medical needs.    

To learn more about PG&E's assistance programs, use the free Savings Finder tool or visit pge.com/billhelp.  

About PG&E 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news    

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is PG&E's Match My Payment program and how much match is available for PCG customers?

Match My Payment offers a dollar-for-dollar match up to $1,000 for qualifying customers to pay past-due energy bills.

How can PCG customers receive up to $1,300 in combined bill relief?

Customers who get a $300 REACH grant are pre-qualified for up to $1,000 through Match My Payment for a combined $1,300, while funds last.

Is PG&E extending the Match My Payment program beyond December 31, 2025 for PCG?

Yes. The program is extended into 2026 while funds last following the initial launch and $50 million commitment.

How many PCG customers received assistance from PG&E programs in 2025 and how much was distributed?

Year-to-date, the programs provided nearly $22 million to more than 60,000 customers in 2025.

How are Match My Payment applications for PCG processed and how is funding allocated?

Applications are processed by the nonprofit Dollar Energy Fund and funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

What income limits determine PCG customer eligibility for Match My Payment and REACH?

Eligibility follows federal income guidelines; for example, a family of four earning under $128,600 may qualify for Match My Payment, while REACH uses lower federal limits.