CARE and FERA reduce your electricity and gas bills by 18-35%. Over 4.5 million California households participate. If your income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, you likely qualify for one of these programs.
Check Your Eligibility in 30 Seconds →CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) provides a 30-35% discount on electricity and a 20% discount on natural gas to qualifying low-income households. It is the largest utility discount program in California, serving over 4.5 million households.
FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) provides an 18% discount on electricity only to households of 3 or more people with income between 200-250% of the Federal Poverty Level. FERA is designed for families who earn too much for CARE but still need energy cost relief.
Both programs are funded by California's public utilities and mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). There are no fees, no deposits, and no repayment required. The discount is applied directly to your monthly utility bill.
CARE and FERA are related but distinct programs. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | CARE | FERA |
|---|---|---|
| Income Limit | ≤ 200% FPL | 200-250% FPL |
| Household Size | Any (1+ person) | 3+ people only |
| Electricity Discount | 30-35% | 18% |
| Gas Discount | 20% | Not available |
| Typical Monthly Savings | $30-50 | $15-25 |
| Participating Utilities | PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SoCalGas, and others | PG&E and SCE only |
| Categorical Eligibility | Yes (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, etc.) | No (income-only) |
| Recertification | Every 2 years | Every 2 years |
Income limits are based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). CARE covers households at or below 200% FPL. FERA covers households of 3+ between 200-250% FPL. You can also qualify for CARE automatically through categorical eligibility (enrollment in qualifying programs).
| Household Size | CARE Limit (200% FPL) | FERA Limit (250% FPL) | CARE Annual | FERA Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $3,160 | N/A* | $37,920 | N/A* |
| 2 people | $4,274 | N/A* | $51,288 | N/A* |
| 3 people | $5,390 | $6,738 | $64,680 | $80,850 |
| 4 people | $6,504 | $8,130 | $78,048 | $97,560 |
| 5 people | $7,620 | $9,525 | $91,440 | $114,300 |
| 6 people | $8,734 | $10,918 | $104,808 | $131,010 |
| 7 people | $9,850 | $12,313 | $118,200 | $147,750 |
| 8 people | $10,964 | $13,705 | $131,568 | $164,460 |
*FERA requires a minimum household size of 3. Households of 1-2 should apply for CARE instead. Source: 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Add approximately $1,116/month (CARE) or $1,395/month (FERA) for each additional person above 8.
Both CARE and FERA use income-based eligibility. CARE also offers categorical eligibility through enrollment in qualifying assistance programs.
Total household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. All sources of income count: wages, Social Security, disability, unemployment, pensions, child support, etc. No minimum household size.
If you or anyone in your household participates in any of these programs, you automatically qualify for CARE regardless of income: Medi-Cal, CalFresh (SNAP), CalWORKs (TANF), WIC, SSI/SSP, Head Start, LIHEAP, Tribal TANF, NSLA (school lunch), or BIA General Assistance.
Residents of deed-restricted affordable housing, Section 8 HUD housing, or federally assisted housing also qualify for CARE. Must be receiving utility service in your own name or through a qualifying submetered arrangement.
Members of a federally recognized tribe living on tribal land may qualify through the Tribal CARE variation, which provides the same discount rate. Contact your utility company directly for tribal-specific enrollment.
Total household income above the CARE limit (200% FPL) but at or below 250% FPL. Must have 3 or more household members. Households of 1-2 people are not eligible for FERA.
FERA provides an 18% discount on electricity only — no gas discount. Currently available through PG&E and SCE (Southern California Edison) only. SDG&E and SoCalGas do not offer FERA.
The exact discount percentage depends on your utility provider and whether you're on CARE or FERA:
Typical monthly savings: CARE customers save $30-50/month on combined electricity and gas. FERA customers save $15-25/month on electricity. Higher-usage households save more in absolute dollars — the discount is a percentage of your bill, not a flat amount.
California's investor-owned utilities (IOUs) all participate in CARE. FERA is more limited:
CARE + FERA. Serves Northern and Central CA. Apply online at pge.com/care or call 1-866-743-2273. Gas and electric discounts available.
CARE + FERA. Serves Southern CA (electricity only). Apply online at sce.com/care or call 1-800-447-6620. Electric discount only (no gas service).
CARE only. Serves Southern CA (gas only). Apply online at socalgas.com/care or call 1-800-427-2200. 20% gas discount. FERA not available.
CARE only. Serves San Diego County. Apply online at sdge.com/care or call 1-800-411-7343. Gas and electric discounts. FERA not available.
Smaller utilities: Several smaller California utilities also offer CARE (Bear Valley Electric, Liberty Utilities, PacifiCorp). If you're served by a municipal utility (LADWP, SMUD, etc.), check with your provider — many offer their own low-income discount programs that are similar to CARE but have separate applications.
Applying is free and takes about 10 minutes. You can apply through your utility company:
Use the income table above or our free eligibility screener to determine whether you qualify for CARE (≤200% FPL) or FERA (200-250% FPL, 3+ household members). If you're already enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, WIC, or SSI, you automatically qualify for CARE.
Online: Visit your utility's website (links above) and complete the CARE/FERA application. Most utilities offer instant approval for categorical eligibility. By phone: Call your utility's CARE line (numbers above). By mail: Download and mail the application form from your utility's website.
If applying based on income, you may need to submit income documentation (see checklist below). If applying based on a qualifying program (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, etc.), provide proof of enrollment — your utility may verify this electronically. Some utilities accept a self-certification initially and verify later.
Once approved, the discount is applied automatically to your next billing cycle. No separate card or voucher — the discount appears as a line item on your regular utility bill. You'll see the CARE or FERA credit on every bill going forward until recertification is due (every 2 years).
What you need depends on how you qualify. If you qualify through a program, you generally need less documentation:
Self-certification: Some utilities (including PG&E) allow initial self-certification of income. You sign a statement declaring your household income and size. The utility may verify this later through a random audit — keep your income documents available. If audited, you'll have 45 days to provide documentation.
CARE serves working families. A household of 4 earning up to $6,504/month ($78,048/year) qualifies. Many two-income families with moderate wages are eligible. There is no work requirement, no stigma, and no welfare association — CARE is a utility rate program, not a social services program.
If you have your own utility account, you can apply directly. If utilities are in your landlord's name, they can apply for CARE on the account. California regulations (CPUC) require landlords in master-metered buildings to pass through CARE savings to tenants. Ask your landlord if they've enrolled the building account in CARE.
CARE and FERA discounts apply regardless of whether you have rooftop solar. If you're on a net energy metering (NEM) plan, the CARE discount applies to the charges remaining after your solar credits. CARE customers may also be eligible for additional solar programs like SOMAH or DAC-SASH.
CARE and FERA are utility discount programs, not public benefits programs. They are not administered by any government welfare agency. CARE and FERA are not considered in the federal public charge determination for immigration purposes. Your utility company does not share CARE enrollment information with immigration authorities.
CARE/FERA recipients often qualify for other California benefits programs. Many of them (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, WIC) automatically qualify you for CARE. Use our free screener to check all 7 programs at once:
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