Customers Encouraged to Check Their Eligibility and Apply for the Monthly Electricity Discount
by Corporate News
Oakland, California — An estimated 150,000 additional Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers are now eligible for an 18 percent discount on their electric rates.
The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program is being expanded to include one- and two-person households. Under previous eligibility guidelines, only households of three or more people were eligible.
The discount does not apply to gas rates.
Eligibility is based on income and household size. For example, a one- or two-person household earning up to $52,875 per year could qualify for assistance. A complete list of guidelines and information on how to apply for the monthly discount can be found here. Customers can also call the FERA program at 1-877-660-6789 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
In 2024, more than 39,000 PG&E customers enrolled in the FERA program received discounts totaling $21 million. Customers saved an average of more than $45 per month on their electric bills.
“Expanding the criteria for FERA discounts can offer significant savings to more households,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. “We encourage our customers to apply for monthly assistance and notify other customers who may qualify.”
In 2024, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1130, which revised the eligibility guidelines, eliminating the requirement for households of three or more people to qualify for FERA. PG&E and other California investor-owned utilities are also required to report to the California Public Utilities Commission on efforts to enroll customers in the program.
Assistance Programs for Income-Eligible Households
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): Offers a monthly discount of 20 percent or more on gas and electric bills. Qualifying income levels are lower than those for the FERA program.
- Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): Offers a one-time bill credit of up to $300 for eligible customers based on income and past-due balance.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A federally funded, state-supervised assistance program that offers a one-time payment of up to $1,500 on past-due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling their homes. Payments may vary by location and funding availability.
- Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA): Offers free energy-saving upgrades.
- Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): A debt forgiveness plan for eligible residential customers.
Other programs include Medical Baseline, which offers bill reductions for customers who rely on energy for certain medical needs.
Energy Efficiency Toolkit
Did you know you can lower your energy bills and save money by building an energy efficiency toolkit? By investing in energy-efficient materials, customers can save hundreds of dollars a year.
To learn more ways to manage their monthly bills, customers are encouraged to find the best rate plan for their homes, use the new Savings Finder tool, enroll in the Budget Billing program, or visit pge.com/billhelp.
