$1 million in
Gas Assistance Funds available today to support eligible
residential customers
LOS
ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Today, SoCalGas announced there is $1
million available in the Gas Assistance Fund to support
eligible customers with grants of up to $200 to help pay their natural gas bill in 2024.
Eligibility to receive a grant from the Gas Assistance Fund is
based on total household income and household size. Information on
how to qualify and apply can be found at socalgas.com/GAF.
"This winter, there is some good news for SoCalGas customers
with natural gas prices dramatically down from last year's historic
high prices. However, with cooler winter temperatures, we know that
people may use more gas to keep their homes and families warm,"
said Gillian Wright, SoCalGas Senior
Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. "SoCalGas is committed
to supporting customers and we will continue to provide winter
conservation tips, resources and programs such as the Gas
Assistance Fund."
SoCalGas provides resources to help customers manage their
energy consumption, make energy-efficient improvements to their
homes, and ultimately reduce their bills, including the Gas
Assistance Fund, a joint effort between SoCalGas and the United Way
of Greater Los Angeles. Working
with nonprofit organizations throughout SoCalGas's service
territory, United Way of Greater Los
Angeles helps income-qualified customers pay their natural
gas bill with a one-time grant of up to $100 per household. If the eligible applicant or
a household member is age 55 or older, an additional $100 is available for a maximum grant of up to
$200.
"At United Way Los Angeles, we believe that we can accomplish
more together than alone. SoCalGas' Gas Assistance Fund, which has
helped Californians pay their utility bills since 1983, is an
example of how we can come together to support our neighbors and
communities," said Elise Buik,
President & CEO of United Way Greater Los Angeles. "This
program directly supports vulnerable individuals who face severe
economic challenges. SoCalGas' donation and continued support
enables United Way to expand our impact and support even more
individuals to afford their natural gas bills."
As a reminder to customers, SoCalGas offers a suite
of programs and services that can help customers manage
their natural gas usage to help save energy and money,
including:
Energy Savings Tools for All Customers:
- Natural Gas Price Notice: text alerts that update
customers when a 20% or more increase in the natural gas commodity
cost is expected, which may impact their bills. To date, nearly
63,000 customers have signed up for optional text alerts. (Text
alerts to be sent winter season December through March).
- Ways to Save: a free tool that helps customers find ways to
save on natural gas bills, with a personalized savings plan that
offers a household energy analysis, customized energy-efficiency
recommendations, bill comparisons and energy usage
comparisons.
- Bill Tracker Alerts: notifications that help customers monitor
gas consumption and take steps to reduce usage to avoid surprises
on their bills.
- Level Pay Plan: averages customers natural gas bill across a
12-month period. Each month, the customer pays an average bill
instead of actual charges. This is not a discount program.
Customer Assistance Programs for those who qualify:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): program that
saves customers 20% on their monthly gas bills.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: provides no-cost
energy-saving home improvements, with the potential to save
customers up to 20% annually on their natural gas bill.
- Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): allows customers to have
their eligible past due bills forgiven. Once enrolled, every time a
current bill is paid in full and on time, SoCalGas will forgive
1/12 of the eligible debt. After 12 consecutive monthly natural gas
bills are paid in full and on time, the entire past due amount will
be forgiven (up to a maximum of $8,000 per enrollment period).
- Medical Baseline Allowance: provides additional natural
gas at the baseline rate.
To see more programs that can help customers save money and
energy, visit socalgas.com/Save.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles,
SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution utility in
the United States. SoCalGas
delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas
service to over 21 million consumers across 24,000 square
miles of Central and Southern
California. We believe gas delivered through the company's
pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing
electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy
deployment.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most
innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of
that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to
replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core
customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable
natural gas is made from waste created by landfills and wastewater
treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its
gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for
customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an
energy infrastructure company based in San Diego.
For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect
with SoCalGas on X (formerly Twitter) (@SoCalGas),
Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company