Elimination of Cash Payments in the Field

Due to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in March of 2020 California utilities including SoCalGas implemented a moratorium on disconnecting residential customers with unpaid bills. SoCalGas resumed collections activity for Non-Residential customers early this year, and resumed collections activity for Residential customers on August 4, 2023.

Collections are attempted by letter, email, phone, and in-person at customer’s homes. To enhance the safety of SoCalGas employees who visit customers’ homes for collection purposes, as of August 23,2023, SoCalGas field employees will no longer accept cash, checks, or money orders (“cash payments”) for the payment of bills. 

However, SoCalGas field employees can assist customers in paying their bill through a variety of options:

• My Account - online payment portal
• Customer Contact Center - customers can set up payment arrangements
• BillMatrix – facilitates customer credit card and debit card payments

As always, customers can also pay in person at SoCalGas payment offices or authorized payment locations, or pay by phone, email, direct debit, debit/credit card, or home banking. 

Additionally, SoCalGas continues to provide assistance options to avoid disconnections, including extended payment plans and debt forgiveness through the Arrearage Management Plan.

Working with customers to make bill payment easy is part of how SoCalGas innovates better than any other energy infrastructure company in North America.