One-time Bill Assistance for Eligible Small Businesses
Running a small business can be challenging, especially when unexpected financial hardships arise. SDG&E®’s Small Business Relief Program provides one-time bill assistance to eligible small business customers who need help managing past-due energy bills.
This program is funded by SDG&E shareholders and is available year-round, while funds last.
How the Program Works
If approved, the Small Business Relief Program can provide:
- One-time bill assistance of up to $300
- Help paying past-due charges on your bill, including:
- Energy charges. For SDG&E customers payment can be applied to electric generation and/or delivery. For Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) or Direct Access (DA), payment is only applied to the delivery portion.
- Service-reconnection fees
- Returned-payment fees and other eligible charges included on your bill
Assistance is applied directly to your SDG&E account to help prevent service disconnection. Credits cannot be applied to future bills.
If your past-due balance is more than $300, you may be required to:
- Make a copayment, and/or
- Set up a payment arrangement for the remaining balance.
Who Is Eligible?
Not Eligible
You may qualify for the Small Business Relief Program if all of the following apply:
- Your business:
- Is an SDG&E small business customer operating within SDG&E’s service territory
- Has a maximum demand of less than 20 kW
- Has an active account that is at least 60 days past due
- Your account is enrolled in TOUA, TOUA2, TOUA3
- Is experiencing a temporary financial hardship.
- You have not received assistance from this program within the past 12 months
This program is not available to:
- Home-based businesses on residential-rate plans
- Customers enrolled in the Economic Development Rate (EDR)
- Accounts that are closed or sent to collections
- Requests for security deposits or credits toward future bills
How Often Can I Receive Assistance?
- Eligible businesses may receive assistance once every 12 months.
- Assistance is available while program funds last.
How to Apply
SDG&E is working with the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC). To get started, schedule an 60 minute appointment with an SBDC Business Advisor to get additional information and do a short business assessment. This meeting is 100% confidential with SBDC advisors, details are not shared with SDG&E. SBDC will:
- Review your request
- Review challenges you may have with your business and, if desired, connect you with a SBDC’s no-cost business advisor
- Coordinate directly with SDG&E to apply approved assistance to your account
What Happens After Approval?
- The approved assistance amount is credited directly to your SDG&E account
- The credit appears as a pending payment, which may stop a scheduled service disconnection
- If needed, SDG&E will work with you to set up a payment arrangement for any remaining balance
Program Funding
The Small Business Relief Fund is funded by SDG&E shareholder contributions and administered in partnership with the SBDC.
Program availability and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Assistance is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until such funds are no longer available. This program may be modified or terminated without prior notice.
Need Additional Help?
Small businesses may also qualify for other SDG&E programs that can help lower monthly energy costs, including:
- Rate analysis and energy-efficiency support
- Long-term business resources through the SBDC
Visit https://www.sdge.com/business/save-energy-and-money to learn more.
FAQ
If approved, the assistance is applied to your account as a pending payment, which may stop a scheduled service disconnection while the payment is processing.
If your balance is higher than the assistance amount, you may be required to make a copayment or set up a payment arrangement for the remaining balance.
If you don’t currently meet the eligibility requirements, SDG&E may still be able to help. Call 1-800-411-7343 to review your account and discuss other available options.
SDG&E works with the SBDC to help review applications and connect small businesses with additional support. SBDC works directly with SDG&E to apply approved assistance.
No. Assistance is not guaranteed and is provided while funds last. Meeting eligibility requirements does not ensure approval.