Winter heating season is coming. If your PG&E bill is hard to pay, here are the programs PG&E lists on its site.

Monthly discounts

  • CARE: 20% or more off gas and 35% or more off electricity for households that meet the income limits.
  • FERA: 18% off electricity for some households whose income is slightly too high for CARE.
  • Medical Baseline: Extra energy each month at the lowest price, about 500 kWh of electricity and/or 25 therms of gas, for people who rely on powered medical equipment or have certain conditions. You'll need certification from a medical practitioner.

Help with past-due bills

  • REACH: Up to $800 for customers who have a disconnection notice.
  • Match My Payment: Up to $1,000.
  • LIHEAP: The federal program, run through local agencies, offers up to $1,000.
  • AMP (Arrearage Management Plan): Up to $8,000 in past-due balances can be forgiven for CARE and FERA customers who make their payments on time.

Other options

  • Energy Savings Assistance offers free home upgrades to qualifying customers.
  • Budget Billing spreads your costs evenly across the year.
  • You can set up a payment arrangement or extension.
  • Vulnerable Customer Status gives extra protections for households with serious medical conditions.

You can apply for most of these programs online at pge.com.