California Utility Assistance Programs: Complete List

California ranks among the states with the highest electricity rates in the country. If you're managing a tight budget and a monthly utility bill that keeps climbing, that combination is genuinely painful. What most households don't realize is that utility assistance programs in California span the state, major utilities, and local nonprofits, and most qualifying families never tap into more than one.

This guide covers the full picture of utility assistance programs California residents can access: monthly rate discounts, emergency arrearage relief, no-cost home upgrades, and local agency funds. For homeowners who want to go beyond rate discounts and actually get free upgrades installed, Synergy Companies specializes in connecting California residents to those programs and handling the entire process from start to finish.

Utility assistance programs California: bill discounts that lower your rate every month

CARE: California's most accessible utility discount

CARE, the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, is the most widely used utility assistance program in the state. It applies a discount of approximately 35% off electricity and 20% off natural gas directly to your monthly bill, administered through PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas. Once you're approved, the discount applies automatically every month without requiring annual renewal.

Income limits for the 2026-2027 program year, effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, top out at $43,280 annually for a household of one or two people. That threshold scales to $66,000 for four people and up to $111,440 for eight, with $11,360 added for each additional person beyond that. If your household income falls below those numbers, CARE is your first call.

FERA: the option for households that earn slightly too much for CARE

FERA, the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, was designed for households of three or more people that fall just above CARE's income ceiling. It covers electricity only (not gas) and delivers an 18% discount, but that's still meaningful savings for households that got denied CARE.

The 2026-2027 income range for FERA starts just above the CARE limit and scales up to $139,300 for eight people. Because FERA is restricted to households of three or more, the income thresholds apply at that household size and above. If a CARE application came back denied and your household meets the size requirement, check FERA eligibility before giving up on rate assistance entirely.

How to check eligibility and apply for both

The fastest path to enrollment is online through your utility's website or by calling directly. For PG&E customers, call 1-866-743-2273 to request a mailed application or 1-866-743-5832 for CARE and FERA questions. SCE customers can reach the assistance line at 1-800-655-4555, SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343, and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. Applying for one program often automatically screens you for the other, so you typically don't need separate paperwork for each.

Utility assistance programs California: emergency relief for past-due bills

LIHEAP: federal dollars for heating, cooling, and crisis situations

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is federally funded and administered locally by county agencies across California. The 2026 gross monthly income limits are $3,331.66 for a single-person household and $4,356.83 for two people, with $192.21 added for each person above ten. Benefits can reach $1,500 for heating assistance, $932 for cooling assistance, and up to $1,500 in crisis assistance.

The crisis component is the most time-sensitive part of the program. When a shut-off notice is involved, crisis funds can move fast: for non-life-threatening situations, disbursement can happen within 48 hours of a completed application, and within 18 hours when the situation is life-threatening. That speed makes LIHEAP the program to prioritize when service is genuinely at risk. To apply, search for the California LIHEAP online application portal or use the California Department of Community Services and Development's "Find Services" tool to locate the administering agency in your county.

CAPP: the state program built to clear utility arrears

The California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) was designed to help customers with accumulated past-due balances on their energy accounts. Credits are applied directly to the account balance rather than sent to the customer as cash, and the program functions separately from CARE or FERA enrollment. That means a household can carry an active CARE discount on their current bill while also receiving an arrearage credit through CAPP for older past-due balances. As of July 1, 2026, the CAPP component covering water and wastewater arrears became inactive, so if that applied to your situation, contact your utility directly to ask about any current arrearage options in your service territory. For energy-related past-due balances, CAPP may still be available depending on your provider.

One-time emergency funds through local agencies

Many California counties have emergency utility assistance funds run through nonprofits and county social services offices. The California Fire Foundation's SAVE program provides a $250 cash card to eligible households in participating fire agency areas. For county-specific emergency resources, dialing 211 is the fastest way to find what's available near you: the 211 system connects callers to local programs for utility, rent, and crisis assistance without requiring you to already know which program to ask for.

Free home upgrades that reduce bills permanently

Weatherization and insulation programs

California's major utilities fund no-cost weatherization through the statewide Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) framework. PG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas each run their version of ESA, which can cover attic insulation, duct sealing, window weatherstripping, floor insulation, and energy-efficient lighting at no cost to qualifying households. Eligibility is based on income guidelines aligned with CARE limits. Alternatively, households qualify if any member participates in a qualifying public assistance program such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, LIHEAP, or SSI. Both renters and homeowners are eligible, and the home must be at least five years old.

Free HVAC and furnace upgrades for qualifying households

ESA goes significantly beyond weatherstripping. SoCalGas can provide no-cost furnace upgrades for income-qualifying customers, and SCE's ESA program explicitly covers central air conditioner and heat pump replacement when the existing system is failing. PG&E's ESA program also covers energy-efficient furnaces and heating equipment replacements. These upgrades deliver year-round savings on every bill going forward, not a one-month credit that disappears the following month.

How Synergy Companies helps you stack these programs for maximum savings

Most homeowners don't realize they can qualify for a CARE rate discount, free insulation through ESA, and a no-cost HVAC upgrade all at the same time. Each program addresses a different piece of the energy picture, but the applications flow through different utilities and program offices, which is where the complexity piles up fast. Synergy Companies specializes in identifying which combination of utility-funded programs a household qualifies for across PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, SDG&E, IID, and Riverside Public Utilities, then coordinates the applications and installation from start to finish. One conversation with their team covers the full picture across every California utility assistance program in your territory.

What your specific utility offers beyond CARE and FERA

PG&E assistance programs: AMP, REACH, and Match My Payment

PG&E customers with past-due balances have access to the Arrearage Management Plan (AMP), which lets a portion of overdue debt be forgiven over time as you maintain regular payments. Enroll online through your PG&E account or call 1-877-660-6789 for assistance. REACH and Match My Payment are separate one-time payment assistance programs administered through Dollar Energy Fund, where customers apply online and receive bill credits; local county agencies can also assist if in-person support is needed. For no-cost home upgrades through PG&E's ESA program specifically, call 1-800-933-9555 to speak with an ESA specialist.

SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas programs

SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas each maintain their own income-based assistance programs, arrearage options, and home upgrade offerings under the ESA framework. Availability varies by service territory and funding cycle throughout the year. To find out what's currently open and what you qualify for, contact each utility directly: SCE at 1-800-655-4555, SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343, and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. When you call, ask specifically about income-based assistance, past-due balance programs, and the free home upgrade programs available in your area.

Nonprofit and county agencies that fill the gaps

Statewide starting points: 211 and California's community services network

Dialing 211 connects you to local utility and housing assistance programs organized by county, without requiring you to know which programs exist in your area. The California Department of Community Services and Development also maintains online tools that let you find the local LIHEAP-administering agency by ZIP code. These statewide resources are especially useful for households that aren't sure which utility assistance programs in California to try first, or that have been waitlisted on a utility-funded program.

Regional nonprofits that provide direct utility assistance

Several regional nonprofits across California provide direct utility bill assistance to households that fall through the gaps of state and utility programs. Most serve specific counties and require an appointment, so contacting them early is important. Key organizations with verified contact information include:

• United Way of Central Eastern California: administers PG&E REACH; call 661-834-1820

• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: Gas Assistance Fund and Energy Assistance Fund; call 213-251-3432

• Community Action Partnership of Riverside County: LIHEAP and SHARE programs; call 951-955-4900

• Central Coast Energy Services: serves Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, and San Francisco counties; call 831-761-7080

• Local Salvation Army offices: emergency utility and rent assistance across multiple California counties; contact your local chapter directly or dial 211 to find the nearest office

If one organization has a waiting list, 211 can connect you to alternative resources in the same county the same day you call.

How to apply and which programs to tackle first

Documents to have ready before you apply

Having the right paperwork assembled before you start any application saves time and prevents delays. For most programs, you'll need your most recent utility bill from each provider (LIHEAP requires bills covering at least 22 days), any shut-off or disconnection notices you've received, proof of income for the past 30 days for all adult household members (paystubs, benefit award letters, or a signed income statement), and a government-issued photo ID. If utilities are included in your rent, most programs accept a landlord statement showing your address and energy charges in place of a standard bill.

The right order to apply for multiple programs

Start with CARE or FERA. Approval is fast, the discount is ongoing, and it applies immediately to your next bill cycle. If you also carry a past-due balance, apply for LIHEAP next; the crisis component can move within 48 hours when a shut-off notice is present. Once rate assistance and any arrearage relief are active, explore the utility-funded home upgrade programs like ESA or SoCalGas's weatherization offerings. Stacking these programs is legal and encouraged: each one addresses a different part of your household's energy situation, and they're designed to work together.

Getting help with program navigation

Managing multiple applications across different programs and utilities is a real barrier for most households. Synergy Companies removes that friction entirely. Their team identifies which programs a homeowner qualifies for across multiple utility territories, coordinates between programs, and completes the physical upgrades, so one conversation replaces weeks of back-and-forth with separate program offices. For households ready to address their home's comfort and efficiency at the source, Synergy Companies is a straightforward place to start.

Start with the program that fits your situation right now

California's utility assistance programs are layered by design. Monthly rate discounts through CARE and FERA reduce what you're charged each billing cycle. Emergency arrearage relief through LIHEAP and CAPP addresses past-due balances before a shut-off happens. No-cost home upgrades through utility weatherization and HVAC programs cut how much energy you use in the first place. Most households qualify for more than one program at the same time, and the programs are built to complement each other.

If your bill is past due, start with LIHEAP or contact your utility about CAPP. If the monthly bill is too high but current, start with CARE. Once those are in place, the next step is addressing the efficiency of the home itself, because rate discounts lower what you're charged per unit, but insulation and a properly functioning HVAC system reduce how many units you use.

For homeowners who want help identifying every utility assistance program in California they qualify for and getting upgrades installed at no cost, reaching out to Synergy Companies puts an experienced team in your corner. They handle the coordination and installation across every major California utility territory, so you can focus on the benefits rather than the paperwork.