Energy Savings Assistance


California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

Program Administrator:

Description:

  • Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program can potentially receive a 30-35 percent discount on their electric bill and potentially a 20 percent discount on their natural gas bill.     

Eligibility:

Maximum Household Income

wdt_ID Number of Persons in HousehoId Total Combined Annual Income
1 1-2 up to $34,480
2 3 up to $43,440
4 4 up to $52,400
6 5 up to $61,360
7 6 up to $70,320
8 7 up to $79,280
9 8 up to $88,240
10 Each Additional Person up to $8,960

Effective as of June 1, 2020
*Current gross (before taxes) household income from all sources.

Customers may also be eligible for CARE if they are enrolled in public assistance programs such as:

  • Medicaid/Medi-Cal 
  • Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) 
  • Healthy Families A & B 
  • National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program (NSL) 
  • CalFresh/SNAP (Food Stamps) 
  • 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

Apply

  • Call for more information: (866) 675-6623
  • Application

Recertification:

  • CARE participants must re-enroll every two years

Family Electric Rate Assistance FERA

Program Administrator:

Description:

  • Families whose household income slightly exceeds the CARE allowances could qualify to receive FERA discounts, which reduces electric bills for those households by 18 percent. 

Eligibility:

  • FERA is available for customers of Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric Company or Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 
  • Find out if you qualify
  • Following are the income limits in effect from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020:
wdt_ID Number of Persons in Household Total Combined Annual Income
1 1-2 Not eligible
2 3 $43,441–$54,300
3 4 $52,401–$65,500
4 5 $61,361–$76,700
5 6 $70,321–$87,900
6 7 $79,281–$99,100
7 8 $88,241–$110,300
8 Each Additional Person $8,960–$11,200

Effective as of June 1, 2020
*Current gross (before taxes) household income from all sources.

Apply:

  • Call for more information: 1-800-655-4555
  • Application

Recertification:

  • FERA participants must re-enroll every two years

Medical Baseline Plan

Program Administrator:

Description:

Eligibility:

  • Find out if you qualify
  • To be eligible, you or someone who lives with you full-time must require the use of a medical device.
  • The program also accepts people who are paraplegic, hemiplegic quadriplegics as well as people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or scleroderma, individuals who require air conditioning and people with life-threatening illnesses or compromised immune systems.
  • Qualifying Devices:
    • Aerosol Tent
    • Air Mattress/Hospital Bed
    • Apnea Monitor
    • Breather Machine (IPPB)
    • Compressor/Concentrator
    • Dialysis Machine
    • Electronic Nerve Stimulator
    • Electrostatic Nebulizer
    • Hemodialysis Machine
    • Infusion Pump
    • Inhalation Pulmonary Pressure
    • Iron Lung
    • Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
    • Motorized Wheelchair/Scooter
    • Oxygen Generator
    • Pressure Pad
    • Pressure Pump
    • Pulse Oximeter/Monitor
    • Respirator (all types)
    • Suction Machine
    • The Vest/Airway Clearance System
    • Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t)
    • Ultrasonic Nebulizer

Apply:

  • If you or someone in your home qualifies, call SCE at 1-800-655-4555 while you complete the application process, we’ll note on your account that there is a resident at your address who uses a qualifying medical device.
  • Print the Medical Baseline Application and fill out Part 1. 
  • Have a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) fill out Part 2
  • Mail the completed application to:
    • Southern California Edison Company, Medical Baseline Department, P.O. Box 9527, Azusa, CA 91702

Recertification:

  • If a doctor certifies the medical condition is permanent, the customer must complete Part 1 of the application every two years to re-certify.
  • If a doctor certifies the medical condition is not permanent, the customer must complete Part 1 every year, and a doctor must submit Part 2 every two years.

Summer Discount Plan

Program Administrator:

Description:

  • SCE customers can earn up to $140 in credits on their energy bill with the Summer Discount Plan. Flexible program options let customers choose their level of comfort and savings. There’s no cost to enroll or participate in the program and customers can Manage Their Preferences anytime.
  • Once enrolled, SCE will install a small, remote-controlled cycling device on or near a central air conditioning unit(s), at no cost to the customer. Then, when the demand for electricity or costs for energy spike, SCE may call an energy event and temporarily turn off (or “cycle”) the air conditioner’s compressor(s). As an incentive for participating, customers will receive a monthly bill credit each month from June 1 to Oct. 1. 
  • While these types of energy events can occur year-round, most are likely to occur during the summer season, when demand for electricity is normally the greatest.
  • How It Works
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility:

  • Window and Wall air conditioning units are ineligible for this plan. The Summer Discount Plan is only available for service locations with central air conditioning.
  • The cycling devices can only be installed on central air conditioners that are in good working order. Be sure to check your air conditioning before enrolling in the program.
  • Some air conditioners are not compatible with the SDP device. These air conditioners are not eligible for the program.
  • This program is not recommended for:
    • Individuals with health problems such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease or other respiratory conditions
    • Individuals who are unable to tolerate high temperatures

Apply:

Recertification:

  • After the first year, your enrollment will be automatically renewed every year until you notify SCE that you no longer wish to participate.

Level Pay Plan

Program Administrator:

Description:

  • The Level Pay Plan offers eligible customers the opportunity to pay for their annual electricity service across 11 equal monthly payments. Level Pay Plan does not reduce the amount of the bill – they are still responsible for paying the full cost of the energy customers use, but they can split the cost into equal payments throughout the year.
  • Learn More About Level Pay Plan 

Eligibility:

  • When is the best time to enroll in the Level Pay Plan?
  • You can sign up any time, but SCE recommends that you have at least 12 months of electricity usage history at one address and that you start the program with a “zero” balance.

Apply:

  • Enroll by calling: 1-800-434-2365, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Recertification:

  • If for any reason the Level Pay Plan is not right for you, you can cancel your Level Pay Plan enrollment by calling 1-800-434-2365, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • When you cancel your enrollment, any balance amount is due on the due date shown on your statement. If you have a credit amount, it will continue to be applied to your account until it is used up.
  • If you cancel your Level Pay Plan enrollment, you can still participate again later. You may re-enroll any time after you get your settlement statement from your previous Level Pay Plan participation. After you call SCE or use the online form to re-enroll, your new participation will start with your next billing cycle and Level Pay Plan payments will appear on your next statement.

California Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Program Administrator:

Description:

  • ​​​The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to eligible low-income households with the goal of managing and meeting their immediate home heating and/or cooling needs.
  • LIHEAP is a federally-funded program aimed to assist low-income households that pay a high portion of their income to meet their energy needs. 
  • There are several portions of the program that help accomplish this goal such as
  • the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which can provide free assistance towards paying your natural gas or electric utility bills. The program helps eligible households offset their heating and cooling costs.

Eligibility:

  • ​Eligibility for services may vary depending on sources of income and other factors. Please contact your local energy agency to determine your eligibility.
  •  Priority is given to the elderly, disabled and families with young children who meet the income eligibility requirements.
wdt_ID Household Size ​Monthly Income
1 1 $2,296.93
2 2 ​$3,003.67
3 3 $3,710.42
4 4 $4,417.17
5 5 $5,123.91
6 6 $5,830.66
7 7 $5,963.18
8 8 $6,095.69
9 9 $6,228.21
10 10 $6,360.72

Apply:

  • Click here to search for your local LIHEAP service provider before applying 
    • Enter your city
    • Select your zip code
    • Verify that Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) is your service provider. If not, please contact the local service provider listed for application information
  • Download, read and fill out the Weatherization/HEAP application ( Below)
  • Attach all required documentation listed in application to your application and submit to PACE By mailing in a self-addressed stamped envelope:
    • PACE HEAP, 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900E, Los Angeles, CA 90017
    • -OR- hand deliver your forms and copies to the office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information:

  • Call: 
    • (213) 989-3236  –  English/Spanish
    • (213) 989-3173  –  English/Spanish
    • (213) 989-3236  –  English/Spanish
    • (213) 989-3183  –  English
    • (213) 989-3250  –  English
    • (213) 989-3246  – English/Armenian/Russian
    • (213) 353-1228  –  24-Hour Recorded Message Information Line
  • Or visit the office:
    • PACE Energy, 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900E (9th Floor), Los Angeles, CA 90017
    • Open Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. –3 p.m.

Recertification:

  • The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a one-time financial assistance program so customers cannot become re-certified.

Gas Assistance Fund

Program Administrator:

  • Funded by SoCalGas and administered by United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Description:

  • If customers are having difficulty paying their gas bill during the winter, the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) may be able to provide a one-time grant for the amount of the gas bill, not to exceed $100.00.

Eligibility:

  • To qualify for GAF, you must meet the following requirements:
  • The gas bill must be in the name of the applicant requesting assistance
  • The bill address must be the applicant’s primary residence
  • The applicant must not apply for more than the maximum GAF allowance for the current program year
  •  The applicant must meet the income guidelines listed below:
wdt_ID Number of people in the household Total yearly household income* not more than
1 1-2 $34,480
2 3 $43,440
3 4 $52,400
4 5 $61,360
5 6 $70,320
6 7 $79,280
7 8 $88,240
8 Each Additional Person $8,960

* Includes current household income from all sources before deductions.
These income guidelines are effective June 1, 2020 thru May 31, 2021.

Application:

  • To apply for GAF assistance, please contact the non-profit partner organization in your area.
    • Salvation Army Bellflower
      • 9644 Cedar Street, Bellflower, CA, 90706
      • Call: (562) 804-0808
      • Open Monday or Tuesday from1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
      • They do accept appointments
    • The Salvation Army – Compton
      • 736 East Compton Blvd, Compton, CA, 90221
      • Call: (310) 639-0362
      • Open Mondays from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. or Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
      • They do accept appointments

Recertification: 

  • The Gas Assistance Fund is a one-time financial assistance program so customers cannot become recertified. 

Subsidized Housing Assistance Relief for Energy (SHARE)

Program Administrator:

  • Funded by SoCalGas and administered by United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Description:

  • If a customer’s utility debt is the last barrier to acquire or keep their subsidized housing, SoCalGas® may be able to help. The SHARE program provides funds* to help clear past utility debt and meet the subsidized housing requirements.
  • *SHARE funds will be available one time per year per household and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This is a program that will run until all funds are used.

Eligibility:

  • You may qualify for a SHARE grant if you are currently or formerly homeless and have utility debt as a previous customer of SoCalGas.
  • If unhoused, the following documents should be provided with your application to verify eligibility:
    • Supportive housing voucher or approval letter
    • Verification of Homelessness
    • Proof of failed Housing Inspection due to lack of SoCalGas service, or letter of affidavit from Housing Authority Case Manager or referring agency case worker
  • If at risk of losing subsidized housing or voucher, the following documents should be provided with your application to verify eligibility:
    • Proof of failed Housing Inspection due to lack of SoCalGas service, or letter of affidavit from Housing Authority Case Manager or referring agency case worker

Application:

  • To apply for SHARE assistance, please contact the non-profit partner organization in your area.
    • Salvation Army Bellflower
      • 9644 Cedar Street, Bellflower, CA, 90706
      • Call: (562) 804-0808
      • Open Mondays and Tuesdays from 1. – 4 p.m.
      • They do accept appointments 
    • The Salvation Army – Compton
      • 736 East Compton Blvd, Compton, CA, 90221 
      • Call: (310) 639-0362
      • Open Mondays from: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
      • They do accept appointments 

Recertification:

  • The SHARE program is a one-time financial assistance program so customers cannot become recertified.