How to Sign Up for California's CARE and FERA Utility Discount Programs
How much does the CARE program reduce my California utility bill?
The CARE program typically reduces electricity and natural gas charges by approximately 30 to 35 percent, depending on which California utility serves your area - PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E each apply slightly different discount rates within the range set by the California Public Utilities Commission. Check your utility's current CARE discount rate, as the CPUC adjusts program terms periodically.
Does California's CARE discount apply to both electricity and gas bills?
Yes, CARE discounts generally apply to both electricity and natural gas charges for qualifying households. The related FERA program, by contrast, covers only electricity. If you receive gas service and electricity from the same utility, a CARE enrollment typically reduces both line items on your bill, though the exact discount can vary by utility.
Who qualifies for California's CARE low-income utility discount?
California CARE program eligibility is based on household income relative to federal poverty guidelines, or on participation in qualifying assistance programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI. Households already receiving benefits through those programs are generally eligible without separate income verification. Income limits scale with household size and are updated periodically by the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov.
Can renters apply for CARE or FERA if the landlord pays the utility bill?
Renters who receive their own utility bill directly from PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E can apply for CARE or FERA the same way any customer does. If a landlord holds a master-meter account covering multiple units or a mobile home park, California rules may require the landlord to pass any CARE discount through to tenants. Disputes about landlord compliance can be reported to the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov.
How do I apply for the CARE or FERA program in California?
You can apply for CARE or FERA directly through your utility's website - PG&E at pge.com, SCE at sce.com, and SDG&E at sdge.com - or by calling the utility's customer service line. You'll need your account number, household size, and either proof of enrollment in a qualifying assistance program or documentation of household income, such as recent pay stubs or a tax return.
California's electricity and gas bills are among the highest in the country, and for lower-income households, the monthly cost can consume a significant share of the budget. The state runs two discount programs - CARE and FERA - that can cut those bills by 30 to 54 percent, and millions of qualifying households still aren't enrolled.
Related: How to Apply for California's CARE and FERA Utility Discount Programs - and Whether You Qualify · How to Get the CARE Discount on Your California Utility Bill
What CARE and FERA Are
CARE stands for California Alternate Rates for Energy. It's a discount program administered through the state's major investor-owned utilities - Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) - and it reduces electricity and natural gas charges by approximately 30 to 35 percent, depending on the utility. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) sets the program rules; the utilities handle enrollment.
FERA, the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, is a separate, narrower program specifically for larger households - those with three or more people - whose income is slightly above the CARE threshold. FERA applies only to electricity bills, not gas, and generally provides around a 12 percent discount. You can't be enrolled in both at the same time; if you qualify for CARE, you won't be eligible for FERA.
Who Qualifies
CARE eligibility is based on household income relative to the federal poverty level, or on participation in certain public assistance programs. As of 2026, households that already receive benefits through Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the National School Lunch Program, or several other qualifying programs are typically eligible for CARE automatically - enrollment in one of those programs is treated as verification of income eligibility. Check the current income thresholds with your utility or at cpuc.ca.gov, since CPUC adjusts the limits periodically.
For households that don't participate in one of the qualifying assistance programs, eligibility is based on total gross annual household income. The income limits scale with household size. A two-person household qualifies at a substantially lower income ceiling than a household of five or six, so it's worth running through the current guidelines even if you've been turned down in the past or assumed you wouldn't qualify.
FERA applies to households of three or more whose income falls in a band just above the CARE limit - again, the exact figures change, so the utility's current enrollment page is the right place to confirm the current cutoffs for your household size.
How to Apply
The process is straightforward. Each of the three major utilities has an online enrollment option on its website, and paper applications are also available by calling customer service. PG&E handles CARE enrollment at pge.com, SCE at sce.com, and SDG&E at sdge.com. You can also call the utility's customer service line directly if you'd prefer to enroll over the phone or need help with the form.
When you apply, you'll need to provide your utility account number, the number of people in your household, and either proof of participation in a qualifying assistance program or documentation of your household income (recent tax returns, pay stubs, or benefit award letters are commonly accepted). Some applicants are pre-screened automatically if their utility account is already linked to a Medi-Cal or CalFresh case.
See also: How to Qualify for California's CARE Program and Cut Your Utility Bill by Up to 30% · How to Dispute a Utility Bill in California - and What PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E Are Required to Do About It
Once enrolled, you generally need to recertify periodically - typically every one to two years - to confirm you still meet the income or program-participation requirements. The utility will send a recertification notice; if you miss it, your discount can lapse without warning, so it's worth keeping your contact information current with your utility account.
If You Rent or Have a Master-Meter Setup
Renters who receive their utility bill directly from the utility company can apply for CARE or FERA the same way homeowners do. If your landlord pays the utility bill and the cost is bundled into your rent, the situation is more complicated. Landlords who have a master-meter account serving a mobile home park or multi-unit building may be required to pass through CARE discounts to tenants - that's a rule enforced through the CPUC. If you believe your landlord isn't passing through a discount they're receiving, you can file a complaint with the CPUC at cpuc.ca.gov.
Other Bill-Reduction Options to Know About
CARE and FERA aren't the only programs available. CPUC's Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program provides free energy-efficiency upgrades - weatherstripping, insulation, energy-efficient appliances - to income-qualifying households, administered through the same utilities. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded program administered in California through the Department of Community Services and Development, provides one-time bill payment assistance and can be stacked with CARE in some cases. California's utilities also offer medical baseline rates for customers with qualifying medical conditions that require high electricity use. None of these require you to choose among them as a first step - applying for CARE is generally the starting point, and from there you can explore what else applies to your household.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Income limits, discount percentages, and program rules are set by the California Public Utilities Commission and can change. Verify current eligibility requirements and apply through your utility's website or through the CPUC at cpuc.ca.gov.