Past Due Bill Forgiveness
Do you have a past due balance on your PSE account?
If you’re already receiving PSE HELP and Bill Discount Rate, you may qualify for Past Due Bill Forgiveness. This program can help lower the amount you owe.
Once you join the program, pay your full bill on time each month. Each on-time and full payment of your Total Due removes or forgives part of your past due balance. Make 12 payments on time and your whole past due balance enrolled in the program will be gone.
Learn more with our FAQs below.
Step 1 - See if you qualify
To qualify for Past Due Bill Forgiveness, you need to:
- Be a current PSE residential customer
- Get PSE HELP in the current program year (October through September)
- Be on Bill Discount Rate
- Owe an eligible past due amount on your PSE bill
- Wait two years since you last started on Past Due Bill Forgiveness
Step 2 - Apply
Haven't applied for Bill Discount Rate or PSE HELP yet? You can apply for all three programs — Bill Discount Rate, PSE HELP, and Past Due Bill Forgiveness — in one application.
Already enrolled in Bill Discount Rate and PSE HELP? Agree to the terms and conditions for Past Due Bill Forgiveness then send in your application.
It’s easy to apply. Just fill out our brief online form using your PSE digital account or continue as a guest. If you experience difficulties with the application, email us at billdiscount@pse.com. We’re here to help.
Step 3 - What happens after you apply
You can check the status of your applications if you have a myPSE online account.
If we approve your application, we will mail you a letter. The letter will tell you when your program starts and how it works.
- If you picked email as the communication method on your application, we’ll also send you an email confirming your enrollment.
- Save your letter or email. You may want to look at it again later.
Note: This program can help with up to $2,500 of your past due balance. If you owe more than $2,500, we may be able to set up a separate payment plan for the extra amount. That extra amount cannot include your current charges — only past due amounts.
Step 4 - Pay your bill to get forgiveness
Once you start on the program, your bill will show your progress. See an example here.
- Pay the full amount on your bill (called your Total Due) by the due date each month.
- Each time you pay on time and in full, we forgive part of your enrolled past due balance. Make 12 payments on time, and your whole enrolled past due balance will be forgiven.
- Forgiveness happens the day after your due date - not right when you pay.
- You're allowed two missed payments while you're in the program. A missed payment means you paid late, paid only part of your bill, or did not pay at all. To stay in the program, pay the missed amount along with your current bill by the next due date.
- If you miss a third payment, you will be removed from the program.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check my program details after I start?
Look at your enrollment letter or email. Your PSE bill will also show your current status in the program.
How many payments do I need to make to finish the program?
Twelve on-time, full payments.
Do I have to pay the amount in the program?
No. That amount is what we forgive each time you make an on-time, full payment of your bill. You still need to pay any balance not in the program, plus your current charges.
What if I miss a payment?
You're allowed two missed payments while you're in the program. A missed payment means you paid late, paid only part of your bill, or did not pay at all. To stay in the program, pay the missed amount along with your current bill by the next due date. A third missed payment will end your enrollment.
What if I can't keep up with payments after I join?
Don't worry — any amount we've already forgiven stays forgiven. But missing three payments will remove you from the program.
If your due date is part of the problem, you can change it. Log in to myPSE or call our Customer Care Center.
Is there a maximum amount eligible for past-due forgiveness through Past Due Bill Forgiveness?
Yes, the maximum eligible forgiveness amount under Past Due Bill Forgiveness is $2,500.
Will this program cover my whole balance?
No. It only covers past due amounts up to a maximum of $2,500. It does not cover your current charges or any past due amount above $2,500. You may be able to get a separate payment plan for the amount above $2,500.
Can I be on another payment plan and join this program too?
If you're on another payment plan now, it will end when you join Past Due Bill Forgiveness. This program asks you to pay your full bill on time, so we can't also have you on a separate payment plan for that same amount. If you owe more than $2,500, you can ask for a payment plan for the amount above $2,500.
Can I join this program again after I finish it?
Yes. You can join again two years after your first start date.
When will I get my first forgiveness?
You'll get your first forgiveness after you start the program and make your first on-time, full payment. To start the program, you need to meet all the eligibility criteria. Once your program starts, each time you pay your full bill on time, you'll get forgiveness the day after your due date.
I applied but never started and it's a new PSE HELP year. What do I do?
Getting PSE HELP this program year is one of the rules for this program. Since it's a new program year, your old application is no longer active. Please apply again for both PSE HELP and Past Due Bill Forgiveness. The PSE HELP program year runs October through September.
What will my bill look like on this program?
See an example bill here: Bill Assistance bill
I moved but I'm still a PSE customer. Can I keep my enrollment?
No, enrollment doesn't move with you. You'll need to apply again at your new address. If you move, you don’t have to wait two years to start on the program again.
What if my account closes before my forgiveness is applied?
Forgiveness happens the day after your due date - not right when you pay. If your account closes before the due date, you will not get that month's forgiveness. This is true even if you already paid your full bill early.