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CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) (a monthly discount on the electricity and gas bill): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

CARE is a monthly discount on the electricity and natural gas bill for California households whose income is under a limit or who are enrolled in programs like CalFresh or Medi-Cal. The discount is given by the household's utility under rules set by the California Public Utilities Commission. Apply with your utility; no documents are needed at application.

What CARE is, in one paragraph

CARE, the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, is a discount on the monthly electricity and natural gas bill. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) sets the rules; your utility (PG&E, Southern California Edison, SDG&E, SoCalGas and the smaller regulated utilities) gives the discount. It is paid for by a surcharge on every other customer's rates (rule:funding). Once enrolled, the discount is on every bill until you renew.

30% to 35%
off the electric bill at utilities with 100,000 or more customer accounts, plus 20% or more off natural gas (CPUC and PG&E, rule:discount_electric, rule:discount_gas)

Who may qualify

Two ways in: a program you are already in, or your income.

A program. If you or anyone in your home is enrolled in Medi-Cal, WIC, free school lunch, CalFresh, LIHEAP, SSI, CalWORKs/TANF, Tribal Head Start or Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, the household qualifies (rule:categorical).

Income. Add everyone's income for the year, before taxes, from all sources. The household qualifies when the total is at or below the limit for its size (rule:income_limit), 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027:

People in the homeYearly income at or below
1-2$43,280
3$54,640
4$66,000
5$77,360
6$88,720
7$100,080
8$111,440
Each additional personadd $11,360

The account. The bill must be in your name, you must live there, nobody but a spouse may claim you as a tax dependent, and the home must not share a meter (rule:account_conditions). PG&E also limits monthly use to six times the Tier 1 allowance (rule:usage_limit).

The discount is 30% to 35% on electricity at the large utilities, 20% at the smaller ones (rule:discount_electric), and 20% or more on gas (rule:discount_gas). CARE customers also pay a Base Services Charge of about $6 a month instead of $24.15 (rule:base_services_charge).

How to apply, and what happens after

Apply with your utility: online, by phone, by mail, fax or email. The form takes minutes and asks for no documents (rule:no_documents_at_application). CARE and FERA share one form; if you are over the CARE limit, the utility checks you for FERA (rule:one_application).

After you enroll, the utility may ask you to prove your income (rule:post_enrollment_verification). Answer by the date on the letter, or the discount stops.

Renewal. Every two years, or every four if the household is on a fixed income (rule:renewal_period). PG&E mails the renewal three months before the end date, and you may renew within 90 days of it (rule:renewal_notice). Tell the utility if you stop qualifying (rule:report_no_longer_qualifies).

Disputes. If the utility's customer service does not fix a problem, file an informal complaint with the CPUC (rule:complaint).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
11 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Household learns its utility gives a CARE discount on electricity and gas"
"who_acts""Household / utility / community agency"
"timeline""No deadline; the discount runs only from enrollment"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Not knowing the discount exists; assuming income is too high when a household member's CalFresh or Medi-Cal enrollment already qualifies it"
"model_role""Ask the two qualifying questions: programs enrolled in, and household size with annual income"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Program enrollment test (rule:categorical) or income test against the CARE table (rule:income_limit); account conditions (rule:account_conditions)"
"who_acts""Model + household"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Household size, annual gross income, programs enrolled, whose name is on the bill"
"failure_mode""Counting only one earner's income; the bill in someone else's name"
"model_role""Compare facts to rule:categorical and rule:income_limit; if over the CARE limit, check FERA (rule:one_application)"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"3
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""Utility's online, phone or paper CARE/FERA form; self-certification of income or program"
"who_acts""Household (model drafts answers)"
"timeline""Minutes (rule:no_documents_at_application)"
"evidence""No documents at application"
"failure_mode""Abandoning the form; wrong household count"
"model_role""Pre-fill answers from known facts; name the utility's form"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"4
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Form submitted to the utility online, by phone, mail, fax or email"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""Same day"
"evidence""Confirmation from the utility"
"failure_mode""No record of submission"
"model_role""Record the submission date and channel"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"5
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""Utility enrolls the account and the discount appears on the bill"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no page read states a processing time"
"evidence""The bill shows CARE"
"failure_mode""Discount not appearing"
"model_role""Check the next bill for the CARE line"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"6
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Discount applied to the monthly bill: rate discount (rule:discount_electric, rule:discount_gas) and reduced Base Services Charge (rule:base_services_charge)"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""Every billing cycle while enrolled"
"evidence""Monthly bill"
"failure_mode""Usage above the PG&E limit (rule:usage_limit)"
"model_role""Explain the bill lines"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:post_enrollment_verification"
"order"7
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""Post-enrollment verification: the utility may ask for proof of income (rule:post_enrollment_verification)"
"who_acts""Utility + household"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: the response deadline is on the utility's letter"
"evidence""Income proof"
"failure_mode""Not answering the request, losing the discount"
"model_role""List the documents and track the date on the letter"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"8
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Tell the utility when the household no longer qualifies (rule:report_no_longer_qualifies)"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""When the change happens"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Keeping a discount the household no longer qualifies for"
"model_role""Re-screen when income or household changes"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"9
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Renew every two years, or four for a fixed-income household (rule:renewal_period); PG&E sends the form three months ahead and accepts renewal within 90 days of the end date (rule:renewal_notice)"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""Before the enrollment end date"
"evidence""Renewal form"
"failure_mode""Missing the renewal; discount ends"
"model_role""Calendar the end date and renew inside the window"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"10
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""A dispute not solved by the utility goes to the CPUC as an informal or formal complaint (rule:complaint)"
"who_acts""Household / CPUC"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no page read states a deadline"
"evidence""Bills, letters from the utility"
"failure_mode""Not knowing the CPUC takes complaints"
"model_role""Name the CPUC complaint route and gather the bills"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"11
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Discount ends when the household stops qualifying, fails verification or does not renew"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Bill"
"failure_mode""Back-billing is UNKNOWN: no page read states it"
"model_role""Re-screen for FERA (rule:one_application)"
"automation_class""C"

The same facts open other programs

The facts CARE asks for, programs enrolled in, household size and yearly income, also open:

References (9)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B043"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 9 items
"B044"
"B001"
"B011"
"B003"
"B004"
"B045"
"B023"
"B021"
"B058"
"related_programs" 9 keys
"B044""FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B003""WIC (Women, Infants & Children)"
"B004""California Universal Meals (school meals)"
"B045""LIHEAP (energy assistance + crisis + weatherization referral)"
"B023""SSI + California SSP"
"B021""CalWORKs (California TANF)"
"B058""Head Start / Early Head Start"
"triggered_by_events" 3 items
"event:job_loss_fired_laid_off_quit_with_cause"
"event:hours_cut_income_drop_still_employed"
"event:utility_shutoff_notice"
"shares_facts_with" 5 keys
"household.size" 6 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B045"
"B049"
"household.income.annual" 4 items
"B012"
"B049"
"B050"
"B056"
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 3 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B047"
"person.address.residential.state" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B021"
"B027"
"B045"
"person.address.residential.postal_code" 4 items
"B001"
"B035"
"B045"
"B058"

Official addresses

  • The program, from the CPUC, with the income table and every utility's phone number: CPUC CARE/FERA Program
  • Apply at PG&E: PG&E CARE
  • Apply at Southern California Edison: SCE CARE & FERA; automated phone line 1-800-798-5723 (rule:contacts)
  • Utility emergency payment lines the CPUC lists: PG&E 866-743-2273, Edison 866-675-6623, SDG&E 800-411-7343, SoCalGas 800-427-2200 (rule:contacts)
  • Disputes: CPUC, File a Complaint
Related pages
Beside
FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) (an 18% electricity discount for households just over the CARE limit): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWIC (Women, Infants & Children) (California food, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnancy and children under 5): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalifornia Universal Meals (free breakfast and lunch for every public school student): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextLIHEAP (energy assistance + crisis + weatherization referral) (help paying the energy bill, crisis help with a shutoff, and free weatherization): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSSI and California SSP (monthly cash for people 65 or older, blind or disabled with very low income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalWORKs (California cash aid for families with children): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextHead Start and Early Head Start (free federal early education for children under five from low-income families): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (18)
  1. CARE/FERA Program — California Public Utilities Commission“Note: Electrical corporations with 100,000+ customer accounts in California offer a 30”
  2. CARE/FERA Program: Base Services Charge — California Public Utilities Commission“CARE customers receive an electricity bill discount of approximately $18/month (they will pay a monthly charge of $6/month rather than the standard $24.15/month).”
  3. CARE/FERA Program: CARE Income Eligibility Guidelines — California Public Utilities Commission“Income limits may be adjusted yearly based on inflation.”
  4. CARE/FERA Program: Public Assistance Eligibility — California Public Utilities Commission“Customers may also qualify for CARE if enrolled in any of the following programs:”
  5. CARE/FERA Program: funding — California Public Utilities Commission“CARE is funded through a rate surcharge paid by all other utility customers.”
  6. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).”
  7. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: To qualify for CARE — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“if your household no longer qualifies for the CARE discount.”
  8. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: usage limit — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“Your monthly electric usage must not exceed six times the Tier 1 allowance.”
  9. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: New enrollment — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“No additional documentation is needed at the time of application.”
  10. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: proof after enrollment — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“After you enroll, you may need to provide proof of qualifying household income.”
  11. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: Renew enrollment — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“sends a renewal application three months before your discount expires.”
  12. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: renewal window — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“within 90 days of the date your current enrollment expires.”
  13. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: renewal period — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“Renew your enrollment every two years. Renew every four years if you are on a fixed income.”
  14. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: one application — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“CARE and FERA share one application.”
  15. CARE & FERA | SCE — Southern California Edison“Applying is quick and easy. No additional documentation is required.”
  16. CARE/FERA Program: phone numbers — California Public Utilities Commission“Phone Numbers and Websites for Energy Assistance Programs”
  17. CARE & FERA | SCE: other ways to apply — Southern California Edison“Call our Automated Telephone System at 1-800-798-5723”
  18. File a Complaint — California Public Utilities Commission“If you cannot resolve the problem after talking with the utility’s customer service, you may file an informal complaint with us.”