Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 20 percent discount on their electric and natural gas bills.
Eligible customers are those whose total household income is at or below the income limits indicated below.
Income limits are effective June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014.
|
|
|
|
Household Size |
CARE & Energy Savings Assistance Programs (200% of FPG) |
|
1 |
$22,980 |
|
2 |
$31,020 |
|
3 |
$39,060 |
|
4 |
$47,100 |
|
5 |
$55,140 |
|
6 |
$63,180 |
|
7 |
$71,220 |
|
8 |
$79,260 |
|
Each Additional Person |
$8,040 |
Customers may also be eligible for CARE if they are enrolled in public assistance programs such as Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), Healthy Families A & B, National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program (NSL), Food Stamps/SNAP, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Tribal TANF.
To request an application form and more information, please contact your utility company or check out their websites for more information. The utilities the Commission regulates are:
|
| Phone Numbers and Websites for Energy Assistance Programs |
| Utility |
Emergency Payment |
Website |
| PG&E |
866-743-2273 |
CARE |
| Edison |
866-675-6623 |
CARE |
| SDG&E |
800-411-7343 |
CARE |
| SoCalGas |
800-427-2200 |
CARE |
| Alpine Nat'l Gas |
209-772-3006 |
|
| Bear Valley Elect |
800-999-4033 |
|
| PacifiCorp |
503-813-5000 |
|
| Sierra Pacific |
800-782-2498 |
|
| Southwest Gas |
877-860-6020 |
Special Programs |
| West Coast Gas |
916-364-4100 |
|
Application forms also are available through numerous community agencies. CARE is funded through a rate surcharge paid by all other utility customers. These income limits may be adjusted each year depending on inflation.
California has a Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB), which was established by the Legislature to advise the PUC on the energy low-income assistance programs of utilities under the PUC's jurisdiction.