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California

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 25, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in California, we recommend that you visit the Secretary of State's website or the California COVID-19 portal.

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Description of Program and Relief

Suspension of Power and Water Shutoffs

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has suspended: (1) the discontinuation of water service for residents and businesses for non-payment of water and sewer bills, (2) the imposition of late payment penalties or fees for delinquent water and sewer bills, (3) the discontinuation or shut off of power service for Hetch Hetchy Power customers for non-payment of power bills, (4) the imposition of late payment penalties and fees for delinquent Hetch Hetchy Power customers, and (5) its policy of returning delinquent CleanPowerSF customers to PG&E service for failure to pay CleanPowerSF charges.

Additionally, certain customers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or the shelter-in-place order are also eligible for discounts on water, power, and sewer bills through SFPUC’s Emergency Customer Assistance for COVID-19 Relief Program.

Aside from the discounts through SFPUC’s Emergency Customer Assistance, the programs do not affect customer’s obligations to timely pay for their utility services.

Government or Lead Agency

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Dates Available

The Emergency Customer Assistance for COVID-19 Relief Program is in effect from March 4, 2020 to September 4, 2020. The other SFPUC’s actions are in effect from March 13, 2020 through August 10, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Residential water/wastewater and Hetchy Hetchy Power customers, other than multi-unit residential customers, who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 or the shelter-in-place order are eligible for SFPUC’s Customer Assistance for COVID-19 Relief Program. Additional information about the eligibility requirements for SFPUC’s Customer Assistance for COVID-19 Relief Program can be found here.

Residential and business customers of CleanPowerSF, PG&E, and Hetchy Hetchy Power are eligible for all other SFPUC programs.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

To contact SFPUC’s Customer Services center, call (415) 551-3000.

To contact CleanPowerSF, call (415) 554-0773 or email cleanpowersf@sfwater.org. To make flexible payment plans with CleanPowerSF, call (800) 743-5000.

To contact PG&E’s Residential Customer Service Center, call (877) 660-6789. To contact PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center, call (800) 468-4743.

List of Additional Information

For the Mayor’s announcement of the program, see here.

For the Mayor’s declaration, see here.

For more information on CleanPowerSF’s response to COVID-19, see here.

For more information on PG&E’s response to COVID-19, see here.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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