How to Get the CARE Discount on Your California Utility Bill
What is the CARE program discount on a California utility bill?
The CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) program reduces electricity and natural gas costs for income-qualifying households served by PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E. As of 2026, the electricity discount is roughly 30 to 35 percent off standard rates, though exact figures vary by utility and are updated periodically. Check directly with your utility to confirm current discount amounts.
How do I know if I qualify for CARE or FERA in California?
CARE eligibility is generally open to households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or those already enrolled in programs like Medi-Cal or CalFresh. FERA covers larger households (three or more people) whose income is slightly above CARE limits. Both thresholds depend on household size and update annually, so confirm current figures with your specific utility.
How do I apply for the CARE discount on my PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E bill?
Apply directly through your utility company. PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E each offer online enrollment portals, phone applications, and paper forms. If you receive Medi-Cal or CalFresh, you may be automatically enrolled through a data-matching process, but it's worth confirming with your utility that the discount is actually appearing on your account before assuming enrollment went through.
How often do I have to recertify for the CARE program?
CARE-enrolled customers typically need to recertify eligibility every one to two years, though the exact interval varies by utility. Your utility will send a notice when recertification is due. Missing the recertification window can result in the discount being removed from your bill, so respond promptly when that notice arrives. Contact your utility's customer service line if you're unsure of your recertification status.
What can I do if my CARE application was denied or my discount was removed?
If your utility denies your CARE application or removes your discount and you believe you qualify, you can first dispute the decision through the utility's own complaint process. If that doesn't resolve the issue, you can file a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission's Consumer Affairs Branch at cpuc.ca.gov. Filing a CPUC complaint is free, and the utility is required to respond.
California's electricity rates are among the highest in the country, and that's before you factor in the tiered pricing structure that punishes heavier usage. For lower-income households, the gap between what a utility bill costs and what a household can reasonably afford can be significant. The California Alternate Rates for Energy program - known as CARE - is the state's primary mechanism for closing that gap, and a large share of eligible customers aren't enrolled in it.
Related: How to Qualify for California's CARE Program and Cut Your Utility Bill by Up to 30% · How to Apply for California's CARE and FERA Utility Discount Programs - and Whether You Qualify
What CARE Actually Does to Your Bill
CARE is a discount program administered through California's investor-owned utilities: Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). It reduces the cost of electricity and natural gas service for qualifying households. As of 2026, PG&E and SCE each list the CARE discount at roughly 30 to 35 percent off standard rates for electricity, with natural gas discounts varying by utility. SDG&E customers have historically seen electricity discounts in a similar range. Because California's baseline rates are high, even a 30 percent reduction translates to meaningful savings on a monthly basis.
A related program called FERA - the Family Electric Rate Assistance program - covers households that don't quite meet CARE's income limits but are still at lower income levels. FERA applies only to electricity service and provides a smaller discount, typically in the range of 18 percent off, according to utility program descriptions. A household that doesn't qualify for CARE may still qualify for FERA, so it's worth checking both.
Who Qualifies
CARE eligibility is based on household income relative to federal poverty guidelines, or on participation in certain public assistance programs. Households that receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income, or several other qualifying benefits are generally automatically eligible - enrollment in one of those programs serves as proof. Income-based eligibility uses a threshold set as a percentage of the federal poverty level; as of current program guidelines, CARE covers households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, though you should verify the current threshold directly with your utility because these figures are periodically updated.
FERA is intended for households of three or more people whose income exceeds CARE's limit but still falls within a specified range above the poverty level. The exact income cutoffs for both programs depend on household size and are tied to federal poverty guidelines that update annually, so checking with your specific utility is the most reliable way to confirm where your household stands.
Renters are eligible, not just homeowners. You don't need to be the account holder in all cases - check with your utility about how program enrollment interacts with your specific billing arrangement.
How to Apply
The application process is handled directly through your utility company, not through a state agency. PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E each have their own CARE enrollment portals online, and paper applications are available for customers who prefer them or lack reliable internet access. You can apply by phone through each utility's customer service line as well.
If you already receive Medi-Cal or CalFresh, your utility may be able to verify your eligibility automatically through a data-matching process the California Public Utilities Commission has authorized, which can result in automatic enrollment without a separate application. Not every eligible household gets enrolled this way, though, so it's worth applying directly if you haven't confirmed you're already receiving the discount.
Once enrolled, you'll need to recertify periodically - typically every one to two years, though the interval varies by utility. Your utility will notify you when recertification is due. Missing a recertification window can result in the discount being removed from your account, so it's worth responding promptly when that notice arrives.
See also: How to Dispute a Utility Bill in California and Actually Get Results · How to Dispute a Utility Bill in California: What PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E Customers Can Actually Do
If Your Application Is Denied or Your Discount Disappears
If you believe you qualify and your application was denied, or if the discount was removed from your account in error, you have the right to dispute the decision. Each utility has a formal complaint process, and if that doesn't resolve the issue, the California Public Utilities Commission accepts formal complaints from utility customers. The CPUC's Consumer Affairs Branch handles disputes and can intervene with the utility on a customer's behalf. Filing a complaint with the CPUC is free.
Customers experiencing billing errors more broadly - not just CARE-related - can also pursue that route. The CPUC's process is similar in structure to the Department of Managed Health Care's complaint system: you file, the agency contacts the utility, and the utility is required to respond within a set timeframe.
Where to Start
The fastest path to enrollment is to contact your utility directly. PG&E's CARE information is at pge.com, SCE's is at sce.com, and SDG&E's is at sdge.com - each has a dedicated CARE/FERA section. The California Public Utilities Commission also maintains program overviews at cpuc.ca.gov. If you're unsure whether your income qualifies, the utility's customer service line can walk you through the current income thresholds for your household size without requiring you to commit to an application first.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Income thresholds, discount percentages, and enrollment procedures for CARE and FERA can change, and vary by utility. Verify current eligibility rules and apply directly through your utility company or through the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov.