Did you know there are discounts on certain utilities for those with low incomes?
Low-income customers that are enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program receive a 20 percent discount on their electric and natural gas bills.
Eligible customers are those whose total household income is at or below the income limits indicated below.
1 person =$22,340
2 person =$30,260
3 person =$38,180
4 person =$46,100
5 person =$54,020
6 person =$61,940
7 person =$69,860
8 person =$77,780
Each additional person add $7,920
Income limits are effective June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013.
Customers may also be eligible for CARE if they are enrolled in public assistance programs such as Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), Healthy Families A & B, National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program (NSL), Food Stamps/SNAP, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Tribal TANF.
Application forms also are available through numerous community agencies. CARE is funded through a rate surcharge paid by all other utility customers. These income limits may be adjusted each year depending on inflation.
California has a Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB), which was established by the Legislature to advise the PUC on the energy low-income assistance programs of utilities under the PUC’s jurisdiction.
Check HERE for more information and for applications.