The system
How the system worksThe DirectoryDispatchThe LedgerAI modelsAI agentsYour installationThe appThe research libraryWhat changes for your businessUse it from your softwareEverything it can do
Messaging
iMessageWhatsApp
Ads and leads
AdsCreativeLeads
Devices
Devices
Industries
RealtorsRestaurantsHome services
Explore
How it worksPermissions and limitsCompareSet upQuestionsText me

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 next

FERA takes 18% off the electricity bill for households whose income is above the CARE limit and at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. Only PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E offer it. Apply with your utility on the same form as CARE.

What FERA is, in one paragraph

FERA, the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, is a discount on the electricity bill for households whose income is slightly too high for CARE (rule:what_fera_is). It takes 18% off electric charges (rule:discount) and lowers the monthly Base Services Charge (rule:base_services_charge). Only PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric offer it (rule:utilities). The California Public Utilities Commission sets the rules; the utility enrolls you.

18%
off the electricity bill (CPUC, rule:discount)

Who may qualify

Three things decide it: your utility, how many people live in the home and the household's yearly income.

Utility. PG&E, SCE or SDG&E (rule:utilities).

Income. Add every member's income for the year, before taxes, from all sources (rule:household_income). FERA covers incomes above the CARE limit and at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines (rule:income_band), 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027:

People in the homeYearly income fromYearly income up to
1-2$43,281$54,100
3$54,641$68,300
4$66,001$82,500
5$77,361$96,700
6$88,721$110,900
7$100,081$125,100
8$111,441$139,300
Each additional personadd $11,360add $14,200

Below the lower figure, the household is in CARE range instead, which gives a larger discount.

The account. You must live at the address and must not be claimed as a tax dependent by anyone but a spouse (rule:conditions).

How to apply, and what happens after

Apply with your electric utility on the shared CARE/FERA form (rule:one_application): online, by phone, by mail or email. No documents are needed when you apply (rule:no_documents_at_application). The utility decides whether the household fits CARE or FERA.

After enrolling, the utility may ask you to prove your income (rule:post_enrollment_verification).

Renewal. Every two years, or every four years on a fixed income (rule:renewal_period); PG&E mails the renewal three months before the end date (rule:renewal_notice). Tell the utility if you stop qualifying (rule:report_no_longer_qualifies).

Disputes. A problem the utility does not fix goes to the CPUC as a complaint (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 electric utility has an 18% discount for incomes just above the CARE limit"
"who_acts""Household / utility"
"timeline""No deadline; the discount runs only from enrollment"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Assuming that being over the CARE limit ends the question"
"model_role""When a household fails the CARE income test, test FERA next"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Utility check (rule:utilities), then the income band for the household size (rule:income_band)"
"who_acts""Model + household"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Household size, annual gross income, utility"
"failure_mode""A household served by a utility other than PG&E, SCE or SDG&E"
"model_role""Compare annual income to both CARE and FERA tables; name which band the household falls in"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"3
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""The same CARE/FERA form as CARE (rule:one_application)"
"who_acts""Household (model drafts answers)"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""No documents at application (rule:no_documents_at_application)"
"failure_mode""Wrong household count"
"model_role""Pre-fill from known facts"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"4
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Form submitted to the utility online, by phone, mail or email"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""Same day"
"evidence""Utility confirmation"
"failure_mode""No record of submission"
"model_role""Record the date and channel"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"5
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""Utility places the account on CARE, FERA or neither"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no page read states a processing time"
"evidence""The bill shows FERA"
"failure_mode""Discount not appearing"
"model_role""Check the next bill"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"6
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""18% off electric charges (rule:discount) and the reduced Base Services Charge (rule:base_services_charge) on each bill"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""Every billing cycle"
"evidence""Monthly bill"
"failure_mode""None stated"
"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: proof of income may be requested (rule:post_enrollment_verification)"
"who_acts""Utility + household"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: the deadline is on the utility's letter"
"evidence""Income proof"
"failure_mode""Not answering; discount removed"
"model_role""List documents and track the letter's date"
"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); if income drops under the CARE limit, CARE gives a larger discount"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""When the change happens"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Staying on FERA after income falls into CARE range"
"model_role""Re-screen at every income change"
"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 mails the form three months ahead (rule:renewal_notice)"
"who_acts""Household"
"timeline""Before the end date"
"evidence""Renewal form"
"failure_mode""Missed renewal ends the discount"
"model_role""Calendar the end date"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"10
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""Dispute not solved by the utility goes to the CPUC as a complaint (rule:complaint)"
"who_acts""Household / CPUC"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Bills and letters"
"failure_mode""Not knowing the CPUC takes complaints"
"model_role""Name the route and gather the bills"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"11
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Discount ends on non-renewal, failed verification or income above the band"
"who_acts""Utility"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Bill"
"failure_mode""Back-billing is UNKNOWN: no page read states it"
"model_role""Re-screen for CARE if income fell"
"automation_class""C"

The same facts open other programs

The facts FERA asks for, household size and yearly income, also open:

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B044"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 4 items
"B043"
"B045"
"B001"
"B011"
"related_programs" 4 keys
"B043""CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy)"
"B045""LIHEAP (energy assistance + crisis + weatherization referral)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"triggered_by_events" 1 item
"event:hours_cut_income_drop_still_employed"
"shares_facts_with" 4 keys
"household.size" 6 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B045"
"B049"
"household.income.annual" 4 items
"B012"
"B049"
"B050"
"B056"
"person.address.residential.postal_code" 5 items
"B001"
"B035"
"B043"
"B045"
"B058"
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"

Official addresses

Related pages
References (16)
  1. CARE/FERA Program: Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA) — California Public Utilities Commission“Families whose income slightly exceeds CARE limits may qualify for FERA, which applies an 18% discount on electricity bills.”
  2. CARE/FERA Program: FERA is available to customers of — California Public Utilities Commission“FERA is available to customers of:”
  3. CARE/FERA Program: FERA Base Services Charge — California Public Utilities Commission“FERA customers receive an electricity bill discount of approximately $12/month (they will pay a monthly charge of $12/month rather than the standard $24.15/month).”
  4. CARE/FERA Program: FERA Income Guidelines — California Public Utilities Commission“250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FERA)”
  5. CARE/FERA Program: contact your utility — California Public Utilities Commission“Call your electric utility if your family qualifies.”
  6. CARE/FERA Program: utility phone numbers — California Public Utilities Commission“Please contact your utility company for more information on this program and other assistance programs:”
  7. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA) — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“Income-qualified customers get an 18 percent monthly discount on electric rates.”
  8. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): To qualify for FERA — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“if your household no longer qualifies for the FERA discount.”
  9. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): proof after enrollment — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“After you enroll, you may need to provide proof of qualifying household income.”
  10. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): Renew enrollment — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“sends a renewal application three months before your discount expires.”
  11. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): renewal period — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“You must renew your enrollment every two years”
  12. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA): household income — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“Add all household members”
  13. California Alternate Rates for Energy Program: one application — Pacific Gas and Electric Company“CARE and FERA share one application.”
  14. CARE & FERA | SCE — Southern California Edison“Applying is quick and easy. No additional documentation is required.”
  15. CARE & FERA | SCE: other ways to apply — Southern California Edison“Call our Automated Telephone System at 1-800-798-5723”
  16. 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.”