Income Qualified Assistance Programs

Please see the programs below to find out how to enroll in income qualified programs or get assistance paying your utility bill.

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) - Provides a 30-35%¹ discount on your electric bill and 20% on your gas bill.
• The Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA) - Bills some of your electricity usage at a lower rate.
• Energy Savings Assistance Program - Provides no-cost weatherization services.
• Discounts, Payment Plans, and Assistance Paying Your Bill - Some utilities offer payment assistance programs for their customers.
• Medical Baseline - Extra allowances of energy are billed at the lowest rate for customers who rely on medical-related equipment.
• Federal Low-Income Programs - Administered by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD).

For assistance with telecommunications and broadband:

• California LifeLine Program - Provides discounts on home phone and cell phone services.

Quick Links to Income Qualified Program Tools

• California Alternate Rates for Energy and Energy Savings Assistance Program Fact Sheet
• Low Income Oversight Board - Advises the CPUC on low income issues.
• Low Income Oversight Board Meetings
• Energy Savings Assistance Program Policy and Procedure Manual 
• Audio/Video of the Joint Workshop of the LIOB - IOUs and SMJUs on the CARE and ESA Programs - August 19, 2015

ESA/CARE Publications

Monthly Reports: 

• Monthly reports for 2021
• Monthly reports for 2020  
• Monthly reports for 2019
• Monthly reports for 2018  
• Monthly reports for 2017
• Monthly reports for 2016
• Monthly reports for 2015
• Monthly reports for 2014
• Monthly reports for 2013
• Monthly reports for 2012 and earlier may be found here.

Annual Reports:

• Annual Reports for 2020
• Annual Reports for 2019  
• Annual Reports for 2018 | Amended Annual Reports
• Annual Reports for 2017
• Annual Reports for 2016  
• Annual Reports for 2015
• Annual Reports for 2014  
• Annual Reports for 2013  
• Annual Reports for 2012 and earlier may be found here.

Low Income/ESA Reports:

• 2019 Low Income Needs Assessment Final Report - Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3
• 2016 Low Income Needs Assessment Final Report - Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Banner Tables from Telephone survey
• 2013 Low Income Needs Assessment Final Report - Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3  
• ESA Multifamily Segment Study Research - Final Report | Appendices  
• 2011 ESA Impact Evaluation Final Report | Appendices
•  ESA Energy Education Final Report and Appendices

Audits:

• Final Audits of IOU ESA and CARE Programs - Years 2013-2015²
• Draft Audits of IOU ESA and CARE Programs - Years 2013-2015²

¹For the CARE Program, electrical corporations with 100,000 or more customer accounts in California offer a 30% - 35% discount as required by Public Utilities Code Section 739.1.  Electrical corporations with fewer than 100,000 customer accounts in California offer a 20% discount.

²Per the Commission decision D.16-11-022 (Section 5.4.2) on ESA and CARE Programs, the Commission is required to post draft and final audit reports on the Commission's Income Qualified Programs webpage.