California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
California Alternate Rates for Energy program offers a 30-35% discount on your electric bill and a 20% discount on your natural gas bill. For the CARE Program, electrical companies with 100,000 or more customer accounts in California offer a 30% - 35% discount as required by Public Utilities Code Section 739.1. Electrical companies with fewer than 100,000 customer accounts in California offer a 20% discount.
Apply for CARE
Please contact your utility company or check out their websites to request an application form and receive more information. The utilities we regulate are:
Phone Numbers and Websites for Energy Assistance Programs
Utility |
Emergency Payment |
Website |
PG&E |
866-743-2273 |
|
Edison |
866-675-6623 |
|
SDG&E |
800-411-7343 |
|
SoCalGas |
800-427-2200 |
|
Alpine Nat’l Gas |
209-772-3006 |
|
Bear Valley Elect |
800-808-2837 |
|
PacifiCorp |
888-221-7070 |
|
Liberty Utilities |
800-782-2506 |
|
Southwest Gas |
877-860-6020 |
|
West Coast Gas |
916-364-4100 |
Application forms also are available through many 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.
Qualifications
If your total household income is at or below the income limits below, you are eligible for the CARE program. Income limits are effective June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.
CARE Income Guidelines
Household Size |
Income Eligibility Upper Limit |
1-2 |
$39,440 |
3 |
$49,720 |
4 |
$60,000 |
5 |
$70,280 |
6 |
$80,560 |
7 |
$90,840 |
8 |
$101,120 |
Each Additional Person |
$10,280 |
You may also be eligible for CARE if you 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
-
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Tribal TANF
California has a Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB), which was established by the Legislature to advise us on the energy low-income assistance programs of utilities under our jurisdiction.
RELATED PROGRAMS
For income qualified households, statewide programs:
Energy Savings Assistance Program Free Efficiency Services
SwitchIsOn.org Heat Pump Water Heaters and HVAC System Rebates
Self-Generation Incentive (SGIP) Program Energy Storage Incentives
Solar On Multifamily Affordable Homes (SOMAH) Program Solar Incentives
For income qualified households in disadvantaged communities only:
Disadvantaged Community Single Family Solar Homes (DAC SASH) Program Solar Incentives
Disadvantaged Community Green Tariff (DAC-GT) Bill Credits