Start Saving Money for the New Year with SDG&E's CARE/FERA Programs
If your New Year's resolutions include saving more money, then find out if you qualify for SDG&E's CARE program! The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program can provide you with a discount on your monthly energy bill (electricity and gas).
If you're currently receiving public assistance, or you've recently lost your job, you may qualify for this discount. Even if you are receiving unemployment benefits, your household income as of today may qualify you to receive 30% or more off your bill!
Registering for the CARE program, you'll receive your discount for two years. After the two-year period, you'll have to renew your application to make sure you still qualify. For families on a fixed income, renewal is every four years.
If you don't qualify for the CARE program, you are automatically checked to see if you qualify for their Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program. There's no need to apply for FERA separately. One application covers both programs! The FERA program offers households of 3 or more people an 18% discount on their monthly electric use. Qualification is based on total household income.
Who Qualifies?
To receive the CARE discount, you must already participate in certain public assistance programs or meet the income guidelines. If you do not qualify for the CARE program, you will be automatically checked if you qualify for the FERA program.
Public Assistance Programs:
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• CalFresh (Food Stamps) / SNAP
• CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF
• Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Medicaid/Medi-Cal for Families A & B
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Income Guidelines
If you do not participate in the public assistance programs listed above, then qualification is based on your household size an total current household income* (total income of all persons living in your house, condo, apartment or mobile home). See if your income qualifies here.
You can apply for the CARE/FERA programs online, calling 1-877-646-5525, or downloading the application and mailing it in. The application comes in 12 different languages: Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. To learn more about these programs, you can find more information here.
