The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program is designed to help low-income households manage their energy costs. It provides significant discounts on monthly utility bills, making energy more affordable for eligible customers across California. But What Does The Care Program Do specifically? At its core, CARE offers a direct financial benefit by reducing the amount you pay for electricity and natural gas.
The program provides a discount of 30-35 percent on electric bills and a 20 percent discount on natural gas bills for households that qualify. This can substantially lower monthly expenses, ensuring access to essential energy services for those with limited incomes. These discounts are crucial for families and individuals who may struggle to afford basic necessities, including energy to heat or cool their homes and power their appliances.
To understand if you can benefit from the CARE program, it’s important to know the eligibility criteria. Qualification is primarily based on household income. The income limits are updated annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. As of June 1, 2024, households with the following incomes or below are eligible for CARE:
| CARE Income Guidelines* |
|---|
| Household Size |
| 1-2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| Each Additional Person |
| * Effective June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 |
Beyond income, you can also qualify for CARE if you are enrolled in certain public assistance programs. These programs indicate a household’s need for financial support, and automatic CARE eligibility is extended to participants of programs such as:
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal
- Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
- Healthy Families A & B
- National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program (NSL)
- Food Stamps/SNAP
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Tribal TANF
If your household income is slightly above the CARE limits, you may still be eligible for assistance through the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program. FERA provides an 18% discount on electricity bills for eligible customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. FERA has higher income thresholds than CARE, aiming to assist families who are still struggling with energy costs but might not qualify for the deeper CARE discounts.
To apply for the CARE program and start saving on your energy bills, you need to contact your utility company directly. Each utility company manages its own CARE application process. You can reach out to them via phone or visit their websites for online applications and further details. The main utility providers in California and their contact information are listed below:
| Phone Numbers and Websites for Energy Assistance Programs |
|---|
| Utility |
| PG&E |
| Edison |
| SDG&E |
| SoCalGas |
| Alpine Nat’l Gas |
| Bear Valley Elect |
| PacifiCorp |
| Liberty Utilities |
| Southwest Gas |
| West Coast Gas |
In conclusion, what the CARE program does is provide crucial financial relief to low-income California residents by lowering their energy bills. By offering substantial discounts on electricity and natural gas, CARE ensures that vulnerable households can maintain essential energy services. If you believe you are eligible, reaching out to your utility provider is the first step towards accessing these valuable benefits and making your energy costs more manageable.
