Don’t be a victim of identity theft or scams. Dollar Energy Fund will never ask you to make a payment over the phone, or ask for your credit card information, your bank account number, or a bank routing number in order to receive assistance from our programs. If you experience a call where this information is requested, hang up immediately. You can contact Dollar Energy Fund directly through our customer contact center hotline at 1-888-282-6816.
In 2025, PG&E committed $50 million to expand bill assistance programs to support more customers with their past due bills. PG&E’s donation to REACH assisted over 64,000 customers with their past due energy bills. For over 42 years, the REACH program has helped low-income families keep their utility services turned on in times of hardship.
Program Dates
Starting January 1, 2026, the program is open for customers who have a past due balance and have received a 15 day or 48 hour disconnection notice.
Customers who are enrolled in the Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) are not eligible for REACH assistance.
Customers can receive REACH assistance once per calendar year. (1/1/2026-12/31/2026)
Grants are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants while funding is available.
Balance Requirement
Applicants must have an outstanding balance on their PG&E bill of at least $100.
Senior Citizens, age 62 and over, must have an outstanding balance of at least $50.
Maximum Grant
The maximum grant amount an applicant may receive is $800.
Customers can receive REACH assistance once per calendar year. (1/1/2026-12/31/2026)
Grants can only be used to pay past due amounts.
Customers who have a claim due to a natural disaster qualify for an additional $100 assistance.
Grant awards are based on need and each family’s circumstances are different. Grant amounts are determined on a case-to-case basis.
Additional Eligibility Guidelines
All applicants must provide verification of income.
Account must be residential, single home, or apartment. No “cooking only,” commercial, industrial, or apartments with shared utility service.
Accounts that are in Section 8 or Government Subsidized housing may be eligible.
Name on account must be that of an adult who is currently living in the home.
Customers who have multiple PG&E accounts can only receive one grant per year.
Income-eligible clients must apply for all federally-funded programs when those programs are open.
Dollar Energy Fund grants cannot be used to cover security deposits or reconnection fees.
Grants cannot be used to pay on closed accounts or transferred balances.
Income Guidelines
Total gross household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Use our Income Calculator, or the chart below, to find out if your gross (before tax) income is within the range of eligibility for the program.
Household Size
200% Monthly
200% Yearly
1-2
$3,525
$42,300
3
$4,442
$53,300
4
$5,358
$64,300
5
$6,275
$75,300
6
$7,192
$86,300
7
$8,108
$97,300
8
$9,025
$108,300
Each add’l add
$917
$11,000
The Cal Water Cares Hardship Program, which is administered by Dollar Energy Fund, assists eligible utility customers with their California Water Service Company bills. Customers may be eligible to receive a one-time grant that is applied directly to their utility bill. Program guidelines and eligibility requirements are subject to change.
Program Dates
Open from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, for services that are off or in threat of termination.
Grants are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants while funding is available.
Sincere Effort of Payment
Applicants must have paid at least $75 on their Cal Water account in the three months prior to applying for a grant.
Senior Citizens, age 62 and over, must have paid $50 on their accounts in the three months prior to applying for a grant.
Pledges made on an applicant’s behalf and other grants cannot be counted toward the sincere effort of payment. Exceptions may be made in cases of extreme hardships.
Balance Requirement
Applicants must have an outstanding balance on their Cal Water bill of at least $100.
Maximum Grant
The maximum grant amount an applicant may receive is $200.
Applicants can only receive one grant per utility, per program year. (10/1/2025 – 9/30/2026)
Grant awards are based on need and each family’s circumstances are different. Grant amounts are determined on a case-to-case basis.
If a customer’s utility service is off or in threat of termination when they apply and the maximum grant amount will not restore service or stop termination, the application will be denied. The amount needed to restore service or stop a termination is determined by utility review. Notification will be sent to the customer advising them that their application was denied and that an additional payment is required in order to be considered for assistance.
Additional Guidelines
All applicants must provide verification of income.
Income-eligible clients must apply for all federally-funded programs when those programs are open.
Account must be residential, single home or apartment. No “cooking only,” commercial, industrial, or apartments with shared utility service.
Name on account must be that of an adult who is currently living in the home.
Dollar Energy Fund grants cannot be used to cover security deposits or reconnection fees.
Income Guidelines
Total gross household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Use our Income Calculator, or the chart below, to find out if your gross (before tax) income is within the range of eligibility for the program.
Household Size
200% Monthly
200% Yearly
1
$2,660
$31,920
2
$3,607
$43,280
3
$4,553
$54,640
4
$5,500
$66,000
5
$6,447
$77,360
6
$7,393
$88,720
7
$8,340
$100,080
8
$9,287
$111,440
Each add’l add
$947
$11,360
The Arkansas Utility Assistance Program, which is administered by Dollar Energy Fund, assists eligible utility customers with their SWEPCO utility bills. Customers may be eligible to receive a grant that is applied directly to their utility bill. Our program is a fund of last resort because it goes above and beyond what is available through federal, state and other programs. Program guidelines and eligibility requirements are subject to change.
Program Dates
Open from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, for services that are off only.
Grants are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants while funding is available.
Maximum Grant
The maximum grant amount an applicant may receive is $200.
Applicants can only receive one grant per utility, per program year. (10/1/2025 – 9/30/2026)
Grant awards are based on need and each family’s circumstances are different. Grant amounts are determined on a case-to-case basis. Exceptions may be made in cases of extreme hardships.
If a customer’s utility service is off or in threat of termination when they apply and the maximum grant amount will not restore service or stop termination, the application will be denied. The amount needed to restore service or stop a termination is determined by utility review. Notification will be sent to the customer advising them that their application was denied and that an additional payment is required in order to be considered for assistance.
Additional Guidelines
All applicants must provide verification of income.
Income-eligible clients must apply for all federally-funded programs when those programs are open.
Account must be residential, single home or apartment. No “cooking only,” commercial, industrial, or apartments with shared utility service.
Name on account must be that of an adult who is currently living in the home.
Dollar Energy Fund grants cannot be used to cover security deposits or reconnection fees.
Income Guidelines
Total gross household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Use our Income Calculator, or the chart below, to find out if your gross (before tax) income is within the range of eligibility for the program.
Household Size
200% Monthly
200% Yearly
1
$2,660
$31,920
2
$3,607
$43,280
3
$4,553
$54,640
4
$5,500
$66,000
5
$6,447
$77,360
6
$7,393
$88,720
7
$8,340
$100,080
8
$9,287
$111,440
Each add’l add
$947
$11,360
The HeatShare Fuel Fund, which is administered by Dollar Energy Fund, assists eligible utility customers with their Columbia Gasof Maryland bills. Customers may receive a one-time grant applied directly to their utility bill. Our program is a fund of last resort because it goes above and beyond what is available through federal, state and other programs. Program guidelines and eligibility requirements are subject to change.
Program Dates
The program is open to all eligible applicants regardless of service status.
If applicants are eligible and programs are open, applicants must apply for LIHEAP and CRISIS before applying for the Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Program.
Sincere Effort of Payment
Applicants must have paid at least $100 on their accounts in the past three months. Senior Citizens, age 62 and over, must have paid at least $50 on their accounts.
Balance Requirement
Applicants must have an outstanding balance on their utility bill of at least $100.
Maximum Grant
The maximum grant amount an applicant may receive is $500.
Applicants can only receive one grant per utility, per program year. (10/1/2025 – 9/30/2026)
Grant awards are based on need and each family’s circumstances are different. Grant amounts are determined on a case-to-case basis.
If a customer’s utility service is off or in threat of termination when they apply and the maximum grant amount will not restore service or stop termination, the application will be denied. The amount needed to restore service or stop a termination is determined by utility review. Notification will be sent to the customer advising them that their application was denied and that an additional payment is required in order to be considered for assistance.
Additional Guidelines
All applicants must provide verification of income.
Income-eligible clients must apply for all federally-funded programs when those programs are open.
Account must be residential, single home or apartment. No “cooking only,” non-heat, commercial, industrial, or apartments with shared utility service.
Name on account must be that of an adult who is currently living in the home.
Dollar Energy Fund grants cannot be used to cover security deposits or reconnection fees.
Application Attachments
Verification of income or proof of MEAP or Crisis application, when those programs are open, must be attached to all applications.
A copy of the most recent utility bill with proof of minimum payment must be attached to all applications.
Income Guidelines
Total gross household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Use our Income Calculator, or the chart below, to find out if your gross (before tax) income is within the range of eligibility for the program.
Household Size
200% Monthly
200% Yearly
1
$2,660
$31,920
2
$3,607
$43,280
3
$4,553
$54,640
4
$5,500
$66,000
5
$6,447
$77,360
6
$7,393
$88,720
7
$8,340
$100,080
8
$9,287
$111,440
Each add’l add
$947
$11,360
The Maryland American Water Hardship Program, which is administered by Dollar Energy Fund, assists eligible utility customers with their Maryland American Water bills. Customers may receive a one-time grant applied directly to their utility bill. Our program is a fund of last resort because it goes above and beyond what is available through federal, state and other programs. Program guidelines and eligibility requirements are subject to change.
Program Dates
Open from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, for services that are off or in threat of termination only.
Grants are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants while funding is available.
Sincere Effort of Payment
Applicants must have paid at least $50 on their water accounts in the past three months.
Balance Requirement
Applicants must have an outstanding balance on their utility bill of at least $50.
Maximum Grant
The maximum grant amount an applicant may receive is $500.
Applicants can only receive one grant per utility, per program year. (10/1/2025 – 9/30/2026)
Grant awards are based on need and each family’s circumstances are different. Grant amounts are determined on a case-to-case basis.
If a customer’s utility service is off or in threat of termination when they apply and the maximum grant amount will not restore service or stop termination, the application will be denied. The amount needed to restore service or stop a termination is determined by utility review. Notification will be sent to the customer advising them that their application was denied and that an additional payment is required in order to be considered for assistance.
Additional Guidelines
All applicants must provide verification of income.
Income-eligible clients must apply for all federally-funded programs when those programs are open.
Account must be residential, single home or apartment. No “cooking only,” commercial, industrial, or apartments with shared utility service.
Name on account must be that of an adult who is currently living in the home.
Dollar Energy Fund grants cannot be used to cover security deposits or reconnection fees.
Income Guidelines
Total gross household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Use our Income Calculator, or the chart below, to find out if your gross (before tax) income is within the range of eligibility for the program.
