SoCalGas announce $10 million to help customers impacted by high prices
Reacting to unprecedented prices, Southern California Gas Co. announced Monday $10 million in funding to help customers pay their bills.
"I think they're just trying to save face at this point," said business owner Sadaf Nezhad. "I don't think $10 million is going to do anything for people."
The company said it committed $5 million in funding to the Gas Assistance Fund, a program administered by the United Way that provides income-qualified customers with one-time grants to help pay their natural gas bills.
SoCalGas also announced it will contribute $4 million to relaunch its popular Fueling Our Communities program, a collaboration with local food banks and nonprofits that has provided free meals and groceries to thousands of Californians facing food insecurity since 2020.
In addition, SoCalGas said it will contribute $1 million in aid to small restaurant owners through the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, a fund that was started in 2021 to help small restaurants with improvements, employee retention and to manage debt and rising costs.
Millions of Southern California families have been opening their utility bills to sticker shock.
"This winter's unprecedented natural gas prices, on top of already high inflation, have been a real hardship for many Southern Californians, especially our most vulnerable, our seniors, and people facing difficult circumstances, said SoCalGas CEO, Scott Drury in a statement.
"Thanks to the incredible work of the United Way, and the network of tireless, nonprofit leaders who support our work in the community, we will be able to help many more of our neighbors, families, and small businesses in cities and towns across Southern California this winter."
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom urged the federal government to investigate the recent price spike.
For more information on the higher bills and available help, go to socalgas.com/pay-bill/understanding-your-bill/high-bills.
