The Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has announced a $10 million commitment to provide customers with bill-payment assistance and bolster regional community resources in response to higher than usual natural gas prices.

The commitment includes $5 million in shareholder funding in support of 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. In addition, $4 million will be awarded from the company’s donor-advised fund to relaunch the Fueling Our Communities program, which supports those facing food insecurity, and $1 million from its donor-advised fund to small restaurant owners through the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which provides small restaurants funding for improvements, upgrades, employee retention, and to manage debt, losses, and rising costs.

“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. “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.”

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