How to Qualify for California's CARE Program and Cut Your Utility Bill by Up to 30%
How much does the CARE program discount on a California utility bill?
The CARE program typically reduces electricity and gas bills by approximately 20 to 35 percent for eligible low-income customers of California's major investor-owned utilities, including PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E. The exact discount percentage varies by utility and service type, so the reduction on your bill may differ from another customer's.
How do I know if I qualify for CARE or FERA in California?
California's CARE program generally covers households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or those already enrolled in qualifying assistance programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh or SSI. FERA is available to households of three or more people in a moderate income band above the CARE limit. Income thresholds are adjusted periodically, so verify current figures with your utility.
Can California renters apply for the CARE utility discount?
Yes. Renters who receive their own utility bill directly from PG&E, Southern California Edison or SDG&E can apply for CARE the same way homeowners do. Renters in buildings where utilities are included in rent or where a landlord holds the master meter should ask their building manager whether the property is separately enrolled in a master-meter CARE rate.
How often do I have to recertify for California's CARE program?
CARE and FERA participants are generally required to recertify eligibility every one to two years. Your utility will send a notice when recertification is due. Missing the deadline can result in removal from the program and loss of the discount, so keep your contact information current with your utility account to ensure you receive the notice.
What do I do if my CARE discount isn't showing up on my California utility bill?
If you're enrolled in CARE or FERA but the discount isn't reflected on your bill, contact your utility's customer service line and ask for a case or reference number for the issue. If it remains unresolved, you can file a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities in the state, at cpuc.ca.gov.
Electricity and gas bills in California have climbed steadily over the past several years, and for low- and moderate-income households, the monthly statement can be one of the biggest line items in the budget. The state's California Alternate Rates for Energy program, known as CARE, offers income-qualified customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric a significant ongoing discount on their utility bills - no one-time rebate, no application fee, just a lower rate applied every month until recertification.
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What CARE Is and What It Covers
CARE is a rate-reduction program administered through California's investor-owned utilities and overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission. Eligible customers receive a discount of approximately 20 to 35 percent on their electric and gas bills, depending on the utility and service type. The exact percentage differs between PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, so the discount on your bill may not match what a friend on a different utility reports.
A related program, FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance), is available specifically to households of three or more people who don't qualify for CARE but still fall within a moderate income band. FERA applies only to electricity and provides a smaller discount than CARE, but it's worth checking if your household just misses the CARE income threshold.
Both programs apply to the ongoing rate you pay per kilowatt-hour - they're baked into your bill automatically once you're enrolled, not issued as a separate check or credit.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility is based on household income relative to the federal poverty level, or on participation in certain public assistance programs. As of 2026, CARE covers households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. If you or someone in your household already receives Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income, WIC, National School Lunch Program benefits, or a handful of other qualifying programs, you may be eligible based on that participation alone, without needing to document income separately. Check with your specific utility for the current qualifying program list, as it can be updated.
The income thresholds are adjusted periodically and vary by household size, so the figures change. Rather than stating a specific dollar cutoff here that could go stale, the most reliable approach is to use the income-qualification calculator on your utility's website or call their CARE enrollment line directly.
How to Apply
The application process is straightforward. PG&E, SCE and SDG&E all offer online enrollment, paper applications you can mail in, and phone-based applications. You'll need your utility account number, your household size, and either documentation of your income (pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from a benefits agency) or the name of the qualifying assistance program you're enrolled in.
If you qualify based on participation in a program like Medi-Cal, some utilities will verify this automatically through a data-matching process with the state, which means you may receive an enrollment offer in the mail without having to initiate it yourself. If you haven't gotten one and think you qualify, apply directly rather than waiting.
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Once enrolled, CARE and FERA participants are required to recertify periodically, typically every one to two years. Your utility will send a recertification notice when the time comes. If you miss it, your discount can be removed, so it's worth keeping your contact information current with your utility account.
If You're a Renter or Have a Master-Meter Building
Renters who pay their own utility bill directly to PG&E, SCE or SDG&E apply the same way as homeowners. If you live in an apartment building where utilities are included in your rent or where the landlord holds the master meter, CARE enrollment works differently, and you may need to ask your landlord or building manager whether the property is enrolled in a master-meter CARE rate. The California Public Utilities Commission has guidance on this for multi-family housing situations.
How to Dispute a Bill or Enrollment Decision
If you believe you were wrongly denied, removed from the program, or if your bill doesn't reflect the discount you were promised, start with the utility's customer service line. Get a case or reference number for your complaint. If that doesn't resolve it, you can file a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission, which has authority over these investor-owned utilities and a formal complaint process available at cpuc.ca.gov.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Income thresholds, discount percentages and program rules can change, and eligibility rules vary by utility. Verify current requirements and apply directly through PG&E at pge.com/care, Southern California Edison at sce.com/care, San Diego Gas & Electric at sdge.com/care, or through the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov.