Has your job been affected by COVID-19?
Our thoughts are with our customers who have been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19. If you have recently lost your job or your income has changed, you may qualify for a reduced energy rate through our CARE or FERA programs, even if you are already receiving unemployment benefits.
In addition, California LifeLine is a state program providing discounted home or cellular phone services to eligible households. They’ve partnered with Boost Mobile to give CARE program participants a monthly $15 discount towards prepaid cell phone plans. For more information, or to see if you qualify, visit https://www.californialifeline.com/en or visit https://www.boostmobile.com/plans/cpuc-boost-mobile.
CARE and FERA Can Reduce Your Monthly Bills
Everyday expenses affect some households more than others. Fortunately, there are two programs that may lower your energy bills:
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) reduces energy bills for eligible customers by about 30%.
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) reduces electric bills for qualified households by 18%.
Both programs have the same application and it only takes 2 minutes to sign up with no additional documentation required.
Already applied?
Tips to Complete an Application
Please provide your email address. We will send you an email with a tracking number acknowledging that we received your application. Please save the tracking number. If you do not have an email address, a tracking number is included in the Thank You notification which is provided immediately after an application has been successfully submitted.
Have a copy of your bill ready. Please input your name exactly as it appears on the bill. (For example, if the name on the bill is Doe, Jon X please enter the first name as Jon X with no period. Enter the last name as Doe).
Please wait from 15 minutes to 1 hour after applying to check your enrollment status.
Two Ways to Find Out if You Qualify
Option 1: Public Assistance Programs
You can qualify for CARE if you or someone in your home participates in at least one of these public assistance programs:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- CalFresh/SNAP (Food Stamps)
- CalWorks (TANF)/Tribal TANF
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- LIHEAP
- Medi-Cal/Medicaid
- Medi-Cal for Families (Healthy Families A&B)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
Option 2: Household Income
Based on Household income as of today
Even if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may still qualify.
How many people are in your household?
Household Income for 1-2 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $34,480FERA
Not EligibleHousehold Income for 3 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $43,440FERA
$43,441 - $54,300Household Income for 4 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $52,400FERA
$52,401 - $65,500Household Income for 5 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $61,360FERA
$61,361- $76,700Household Income for 6 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $70,320FERA
$70,321- $87,900Household Income for 7 People
As of June 1, 2020CARE
Up to $79,280FERA
$79,281 - $99,100Household Income for 8+ People
As of June 1, 2019CARE
8 people: Up to $88,240Each additional person: +$8,960
FERA
8 people: $88,241- $110,300Each extra person: +$8,960 - $11,200
Qualify? Apply online today:
Or print and apply by mail:
Need help?
Call a customer service representative:
1-800-447-6620
If You’ve Already Enrolled
Recertification
Did you receive a recertification notice in the mail? CARE and FERA participants must re-enroll every two years.
Post-Enrollment Verification
As a CARE program participant, you may be asked to verify that you are eligible.
Additional Information
Sub Metered Tenants
Are you an income-qualified tenant in an apartment building, mobile-home park, residential RV park, or marina who is billed through your landlord?
Non-Profit Living Facilities
Find out if your tax-exempt group living facility—such as a homeless shelter, hospice, or women’s shelter—qualifies for CARE.
Capitation Fee Program
Are you a representative of a non-profit looking for information about our CARE and FERA sign-up reimbursement program?
California LifeLine Program
If you're receiving an energy bill discount through the CARE program, you may qualify to receive a discount on your phone services through the California LifeLine Program. To learn more, call 1-877-858-7463.
Income Qualified and Want Solar? SCE Can Help
Homeowners may qualify for a free home solar system from our partner, GRID Alternatives. Find out if the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program, a state of California program for low or fixed income families, can help you. Learn more