PG&E Currents
| 4.22.24

PG&E Serving Up Support to Restaurant Business Customers

PG&E’s goal is to deliver a clean, safe, and climate-resilient energy system at the lowest cost for all its customers. That includes its business customers, many of whom own and operate restaurants that PG&E is privileged to serve.

Restaurant Care Resilience Fund

Local restaurants are a hub for gathering, connecting, and celebrating. They play a vital role in strengthening the fabric of communities, and PG&E is proud to help business owners and their staff thrive.

Since 2021, PG&E and The PG&E Corporation Foundation have contributed $3.2 million in funding to the California Restaurant Foundation's Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. The 2024 grant application opens June 15-30.

The fund started as a response to the pandemic to help restaurants stay open and keep their crews employed and has evolved into a permanent fund to build resilience in the restaurant community.

PG&E and The Foundation’s support reflect a commitment to strengthen restaurants to continue contributing to local economies and communities.

“We are very grateful to PG&E and The PG&E Corporation Foundation for their continued partnership in the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund and their commitment to investing in grants to help small restaurants strengthen, grow, and thrive. These restaurants are not merely places to dine; they are economic engines and hubs of community connection. By supporting them we ensure that our neighborhoods remain vibrant and enriched by the contributions of independent restaurants,” said Alycia Harshfield, executive director, California Restaurant Foundation.

So far, 521 locally owned, independent restaurants in PG&E’s service area have received grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 since the pandemic to help with equipment and technology upgrades, unforeseen hardship, employee retention bonuses and training to help restaurant owners invest in their business and people.

An additional 154 restaurant grant recipients will be announced later this year. These charitable contributions come from shareholder funds.

These videos highlight how these grants are helping restaurant customers succeed:

Rising costs

PG&E remains committed to providing ways for its small and medium business customers to save energy and money amid recent inflation and want business customers — including restaurants — to know that the company is committed to easing the burden of rising energy costs.

Electricity prices increased this year, but PG&E expects they will go down in 2025 and down again in 2026. The company is exploring dozens of ways to reduce operating costs, and to reduce or delay costs PG&E is required to pass on to customers by the state.

PG&E’s goal is to build this system at the lowest price for its customers and is proud of its progress. In 2023, PG&E reduced wildfire risk by 94%, undergrounded 364 miles of powerlines at 10% lower cost than forecast, delivered the cleanest energy in the world to retail customers and delivered 99% reliability in natural gas service. However, almost a third of what customers pay for energy today is a result of state policy. PG&E will be working with the state to pursue opportunities to reduce energy prices through changes to some state-mandated programs.

Progress was recently made with the CPUC’s proposed decision on a fixed charge, which would separate fixed infrastructure costs from electricity unit costs. If approved, it will lower the unit costs of electricity by 5 to 7 cents per kWh and make the clean energy transition more affordable for all PG&E customers.

Restaurant customer support

PG&E remains committed to providing ways for its small and medium business customers to save energy and money amid recent economic hardships like recent inflation. Here are some of the ways PG&E is empowering customers:

Restaurant assistance

  • On-Bill Financing: PG&E offers 0% interest loans for replacing old and worn-out equipment with more energy-efficient models. Watch this video to explore how energy savings are reinvested back into your business to help improve your bottom line.
  • Rebates for food service equipment: PG&E offers several rebate programs that will help you save money and improve productivity when you upgrade your food service equipment.
  • Receive alerts for new grants: Sign up for Restaurants Care email alerts so you know right when new grant opportunities are announced.
  • Simplified Savings Program for Restaurants: If you are a small business owner, you can find no-cost energy solutions through this PG&E program that helps reduce your energy costs. This program shas eligibility requirements based on location and size.
  • Support a Restaurant Grantee’s Business: Check out the list of restaurants who have received a Restaurants Care grant and have a meal with your friends or family. Your business goes a long way to support local restaurants.

Other ways we can help

  • Energy Action Guide: This is an online ‘one-stop shopping’ tool for all your energy needs – and it is free. You can find information about top energy saving products, and resources and programs that can help business customers save energy and money.
  • Find Your Best Rate Plan: Customers can use this online tool to run a rate analysis to see if they are on the best rate plan for their operations. The tool is projected to save customers over $9.5 million this year.
  • Economic Development Rate: This offers eligible business customers the opportunity to lower costs through one of three reduced electric rate options. PG&E developed this rate to help businesses grow or maintain jobs in California. The standard 12% rate is available throughout our service territory.

PG&E’s Business Energy Solutions team and account representatives regularly engage with businesses about rate updates through ongoing outreach, community events and other venues.

Watch how the team is helping business customers: