How to Apply for California's CARE and FERA Utility Discount Programs - and Whether You Qualify
How much does the CARE program discount my PG&E or SCE bill?
The CARE program typically reduces monthly electricity and gas bills by around 20 to 35 percent for qualifying low-income customers of PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E, though the exact discount varies by utility and rate structure. The California Public Utilities Commission sets these rules, so check your specific utility's website or cpuc.ca.gov for the current discount rate.
Do I have to prove my income to apply for CARE in California?
For most California utility customers, CARE enrollment is based on self-certification of income - you don't typically need to submit tax returns or pay stubs upfront. If your household receives a qualifying benefit like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI, that alone qualifies you without any income documentation. Utilities may request verification during periodic recertification.
What's the difference between CARE and FERA for utility bills?
CARE is available to lower-income households of any size and provides a larger discount - generally 20 to 35 percent off electricity and gas. FERA is only for households of three or more people whose income is above the CARE ceiling but still below about 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and it covers only electricity at a smaller discount. The two programs cannot be combined.
Can I get the CARE discount if my landlord pays the utilities?
If your landlord's name is on the utility account, you can't enroll in CARE individually. However, multi-unit buildings can be enrolled in a CARE master-meter program, and California rules require landlords to pass that discount through to tenants. Contact your landlord or your utility's customer service line to ask whether your building is enrolled or eligible.
What do I do if my CARE application is denied?
If your CARE or FERA application is denied and you believe you qualify, first request a formal review through your utility's customer service line. If that doesn't resolve the dispute, you can file a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov. The CPUC has authority over PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E and can review eligibility disputes for those utilities' customers.
Electricity and gas bills in California rank among the highest in the country, and for households already stretched thin, the gap between what a utility charges and what a family can actually afford is wide. Two state-mandated discount programs - CARE and FERA - can cut those bills substantially, and millions of Californians who qualify still haven't enrolled.
Related: How to Qualify for California's CARE Program and Cut Your Utility Bill by Up to 30% · How California's Earned Income Tax Credit Works — and Whether You Qualify This Year
What CARE and FERA Actually Are
The California Alternate Rates for Energy program, known as CARE, provides a discount on monthly gas and electric bills for income-qualifying households. For PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E customers, that discount has historically run around 20 to 35 percent off the standard rate, though the exact percentage varies by utility and rate structure. The Family Electric Rate Assistance program, FERA, is a separate and narrower benefit that applies only to electricity charges for households of three or more people whose income is somewhat higher than the CARE ceiling - it typically provides a smaller discount in the range of 12 to 18 percent. Both programs are administered by the utilities themselves under rules set by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The discounts are applied directly to your monthly bill; there's no check to cash and no separate account to manage.
One thing worth knowing upfront: CARE and FERA cannot be combined on the same bill. If your household qualifies for CARE, that's the program you'll be enrolled in. FERA exists specifically for households that earn too much to qualify for CARE but still meet a moderate-income threshold.
Who Qualifies
CARE eligibility is tied to household income and size. As a general rule, households qualify if their gross annual income falls at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, though the CPUC periodically adjusts these thresholds - always verify the current income limits directly with your utility or at cpuc.ca.gov before assuming you do or don't qualify. For reference, in recent years a household of four has qualified at incomes roughly in the $55,000 to $60,000 range annually, but that figure should be treated as a general guide, not a firm cutoff, given that poverty guidelines are updated annually by the federal government.
Enrollment in certain public assistance programs automatically qualifies a household for CARE. These typically include Medi-Cal, CalFresh (food stamps), SSI, WIC, National School Lunch Program (if the child qualifies for free meals), Lifeline (phone assistance), LIHEAP, and some others. If anyone in your household receives one of these benefits, you almost certainly qualify for CARE without needing to document your income separately.
FERA covers households of three or more people at income levels between the CARE ceiling and 250 percent of the federal poverty level, again subject to periodic adjustment. Single-person and two-person households are not eligible for FERA regardless of income.
How to Apply
The application process is handled by each utility separately, not through a single state portal. For PG&E customers, applications are available at pge.com/CARE. SCE customers can apply at sce.com/CARE, and SDG&E customers at sdge.com/CARE. All three utilities also accept paper applications by mail and, in most service areas, by phone through their customer service lines.
The online applications are straightforward. You'll be asked to provide your utility account number, your address, the number of people in your household, and either your approximate gross annual income or documentation that someone in the household receives a qualifying public assistance benefit. You generally don't need to upload tax returns or pay stubs - a self-certification of income is accepted for initial enrollment, though utilities do conduct periodic verification and may ask for documentation later.
If you're a renter whose utilities are included in rent, you may not be able to apply directly, since the account is in the landlord's name. In that situation, you can ask your landlord whether the building is enrolled in CARE's master-meter program, which allows multi-unit buildings to receive a discounted rate that is supposed to be passed through to tenants. The mechanics of that pass-through can be complicated - the CPUC has rules requiring landlords to share the discount - but enforcement varies.
See also: How California's "Big Five" Actually Run the State · What the 2025 Social Security COLA Means for California Retirees - and Whether It's Keeping Up
Recertification and What Happens After You Enroll
CARE and FERA enrollment isn't permanent. Utilities are required to recertify enrolled customers periodically, typically every one to two years, to confirm continued eligibility. You'll generally receive a notice in the mail or by email asking you to confirm your income or qualifying program status. If you don't respond, you'll be removed from the program. It's worth making sure your utility has a current mailing address and email on file specifically to catch these notices.
If your income increases and you no longer qualify, you're expected to notify your utility - though in practice many households simply get flagged during recertification. There's no penalty for having received the discount while eligible, but continuing to claim it after you no longer qualify is considered fraud and can result in repayment of past discounts.
How to Dispute a Bill or Enrollment Denial
If your CARE or FERA application is denied and you believe you qualify, you have the right to dispute that decision. Start with your utility's customer service line and ask for a formal review. If that doesn't resolve it, you can file a complaint with the CPUC through its online complaint portal at cpuc.ca.gov. The CPUC has authority over the state's investor-owned utilities - PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E - and can intervene in disputes over program eligibility. Customers of a municipal utility, such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or Sacramento Municipal Utility District, operate under different rules and should contact their utility directly, as those systems have their own low-income assistance programs not overseen by the CPUC.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Income thresholds, discount percentages, and program rules change periodically. Verify your current eligibility and the application process directly with your utility or with the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov.