CARE/FERA - Recertification & Post-Enrollment Verification
Recertification
CARE and FERA participants must re-enroll every two years. If you received a recertification notice in the mail, it’s time to re-enroll.
Post-Enrollment Verification
To qualify for our Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) or California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) programs, you must meet the current income guidelines or have someone residing in your household who participates in a qualifying public assistance program.
We do not require you to submit proof of eligibility when you apply to FERA or CARE; however, after enrollment, you may be required to participate in the FERA or CARE verification process at any time during your enrollment.
To continue receiving your FERA or CARE program discount, you need to provide specific documentation within 90 days from the date indicated in the letter or email you received. You may prove eligibility based on income OR participation in a qualifying public assistance program.
How Do I Complete CARE/FERA Verification?
Complete Online (recommended)
The fastest way to verify your eligibility for either the FERA or CARE program is by submitting your Eligibility Verification Form online. You may expect to receive a response within 24-48 hours.
You may also download and submit the completed form and supporting Proof of Income or Public Assistance Program documentation* via U.S. mail. Expect a response time of approximately three weeks to one month.
Print and complete the Eligibility Verification Form
Note: If submitting by U.S. mail, please allow sufficient transit time for your application to arrive before the verification due date.
Southern California Edison
FERA/CARE Programs
P.O. Box 9527
Azusa, CA 91702-9954
Frequently Asked Questions for Providing Verification
Why am I being asked to provide verification to participate in FERA or CARE programs?
While we don't require you to submit proof of eligibility when you initially apply, at any time during your enrollment you may be selected to participate in the FERA or CARE verification process. This is to ensure that those benefiting from the FERA or CARE discount meet program eligibility criteria.
What happens to my FERA or CARE discount while SCE is waiting for my verification documents?
Your FERA or CARE discount will remain active until the due date specified on your FERA or CARE verification letter or email. If we determine that you are ineligible, your discount will be suspended. Your discount may also be suspended if you submit incomplete verification documents, ask us to cancel your enrollment, or we receive your documents after the due date.
How long does it take to process the paperwork I submitted?
Please allow approximately 30 days for your paperwork to be processed once documents are received.
I received a letter indicating I was missing information or documentation. What do I need to do?
Review your letter for the specific information or documentation needed. For best results, collect all required documents according to the verification process instructions noted above, and submit your information online
, by U.S. mail at:
CARE/FERA
Southern California Edison
P.O. Box 9527
Azusa, CA 91702-9954
My FERA or CARE discount was removed because I missed the verification due date. Can I reapply?
Yes. To re-enroll in either the FERA or CARE program, please submit your cover letter and all verification documents, along with your completed verification form, either online, by U.S. mail at:
CARE/FERA
Southern California Edison
P.O. Box 9527
Azusa, CA 91702-9954
Can my FERA or CARE discount be backdated if I missed the verification date?
No, if you missed the verification date, you will be reinstated at the time of approval.
Frequently Asked Questions for High-Usage Customers
What is considered “high usage?”
According to California Law, “high usage” is electricity usage exceeding 400% of a customer’s monthly baseline allowance three times in a twelve-month period or exceeding 600% of the customer’s monthly baseline allocation at any time. Your baseline allocation is determined in large part by the location of your service address. You can find your baseline allocation in the “Additional Information” section of your monthly bill.
If you or someone who lives with you full-time has a medical condition that requires electricity-powered life support equipment, you may be eligible to receive an additional Medical Baseline Allowance allocation.
I was already selected for Traditional Verification. Why am I being selected for High-Usage Verification now?
Traditional Verification does not exempt you from High-Usage Verification if your household is identified as high-usage.
What is the difference between High-Usage Verification and Traditional Verification?
If selected to prove eligibility through Traditional Verification, FERA or CARE customers must provide income documentation that may include check stubs, pension statements, food stamp award letters, or other forms of verification. They must also maintain an energy usage rate below 600% of their baseline allocation during any billing period.
CARE customers chosen for High-Usage Verification must additionally participate in the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program. FERA customers chosen for High-Usage Verification are not required to participate in the ESA program.
Failure to prove eligibility will result in disqualification from the FERA or CARE program for two years.
Should I monitor and reduce my usage?
In order to remain in the CARE program, you must reduce your monthly usage to below 600% of your baseline allocation. Continued failure to do so will result in automatic removal from the CARE program.
Find more ways to help reduce your usage.
Will the ESA program contact me if I meet program verification criteria?
Yes, upon verification of program eligibility CARE customers chosen for High-Usage Verification will be contacted up to three times by an ESA program contractor to set up an appointment for an ESA program home assessment. (FERA customers are not required to complete an ESA program home assessment.)
If we receive no response, you will be removed from the CARE program. If you are removed from CARE and did not participate in the ESA program, please contact an ESA program representative at 1-800-736-4777 to reschedule your ESA program home assessment appointment.
Note: If you have participated in the ESA program in the past at your current residence, you will not be required to participate in this High-Usage Verification process. In addition, a CARE program participant in a rental residence will not be removed from the program for failure to complete the ESA program home assessment in situations where the landlord is nonresponsive when contacted by an assessment contractor, or otherwise does not allow for ESA program participation.
Can I reschedule if I missed my home assessment appointment with the Energy Savings Assistance program?
Yes. To reschedule your home assessment appointment, please contact your assigned contractor directly. To locate your assigned contractor, click here and enter your service account number or address and click search. If you have additional questions, please contact Energy Efficiency at 1-800-736-4777.
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