California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

Eligible nonprofit group facilities

• Homeless shelters
• Hospices
• Women's shelters
• Group living facilities, including:
  • Transitional housing, such as drug rehab centers or halfway houses
  • Short- or long-term care facilities
  • Group homes for the physically or mentally challenged
  • Other nonprofit group living facilities

Nonprofit group facility requirements

• Group living facilities must provide special needs social services in addition to lodging. Examples include meals and rehabilitation.
• Group facilities may have satellite facilities in the name of one licensed entity.
  • These satellite facilities must meet the same requirements as the main facility.
• Group facilities must notify PG&E if they no longer qualify for the CARE discount.
• Homeless shelters, hospices and women's shelters must:
  • Provide lodging as their primary function
  • Be open for operation
  • Have facilities with at least six beds for a minimum of 180 days and/or nights per year

Nonprofit group facility income guidelines

Total gross income for all residents or clients must meet current income guidelines.

• The income applies to individuals who occupy the facility at any time. This includes family units.
• On-site aid is excluded from this calculation.

One licensed nonprofit, multiple facilities

Separate applications must be filed for each type of facility. This rule applies even if the facilities are under one licensed organization.

• For example, an entity with a homeless shelter and a hospice facility must apply separately for each facility.

Tax-exempt status

The organization that operates the facility must provide a copy of the 501(c)(3) document. This document certifies tax-exempt status.

• All PG&E accounts must be listed in the name of the entity that holds the tax-exempt status.

Nonprofit group facility energy usage requirements

70 percent of the energy supplied to each PG&E account must be used for residential purposes. The purpose includes common-use areas.

Which facilities are not eligible for CARE?

• Nonprofit facilities that provide only social services
• Group living facilities that provide no service other than a place to live
• Government-owned or operated facilities
• Government-subsidized facilities that only provide lodging

How do I download a CARE application for my nonprofit?

Download the CARE nonprofit group living facilities program application (PDF). Forms in languages other than English can be found in the "Forms and Guides" tab.

How do I submit a CARE application for my nonprofit?

First, complete and sign the application. Next, submit your application using one of the following ways:

• Submit your application by mail or fax
  PG&E CARE/FERA program
  P.O. Box 29647
  Oakland, CA 94604-9647
  
  Fax: 1-877-302-7563
  
  
• Submit your application by email
  Email the completed application to CAREandFERA@pge.com.
  
  Write "Nonprofit application" in the email’s subject line. Remember to attach your application to the email.

Renew CARE certification for a nonprofit

Organizations must recertify every four years by completing a new application and attaching proof of the following items:

• A copy of your currently valid Federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption document with the same name as the PG&E account(s)
• A copy of your license to provide social service by the appropriate agency
• A complete list of your facility's PG&E accounts (See Section 5 of the application)

PG&E sends a renewal application three months before the discount expires. Your organization can reapply for the CARE program if it still qualifies under the current CARE program eligibility program.

To request an application by mail, email CAREandFERA@pge.com.

Eligibility

Housing facilities for agricultural employees may be eligible to get monthly CARE discounts on their energy bill. The housing facility must:

• Meet the definition in Subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code and have an exemption from local property taxes pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
• Provide a copy of tax-exempt documentation
• Use 70 percent of the energy supplied to master-metered facilities for residential purposes, and 100 percent of the energy for individually metered units for residential purposes
• Meet the current income guidelines regarding total gross income for all households in the facility at any given time
• Have separate applications filed for each type of facility even if they are under one licensed organization.
  • For example, employee housing and housing for agricultural employees
• Notify Pacific Gas and Electric Company if it no longer qualifies for the CARE discount.

How do I download an application for my agricultural housing facility?

Download the CARE for agricultural employee housing facilities application (PDF). Forms in languages other than English can be found in the "Forms and Guides" tab.

How do I submit a CARE application for my agricultural housing facility?

First, complete and sign the application. Next, submit your application using one of the following ways:

• Submit your application by mail or fax
  PG&E CARE/FERA program
  P.O. Box 29647
  Oakland, CA 94604-9647
  
  Fax: 1-877-302-7563
  
  
• Submit your application by email
  Email the completed application to CAREandFERA@pge.com.
  
  Write "Agricultural" in the email's subject line. Remember to attach your application to the email.

Renew CARE for an agricultural housing facility

Organizations must renew every four years. To renew, complete a new application. Attach proof of one the following items:

• A copy of a current permit issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development, or
• Your Federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption, or
• Your state tax exemption form along with your local property tax exemption form

Include a statement describing how the organization used the discount to directly benefit facility residents during the previous year.

PG&E sends a renewal application three months before a discount expires.

• Your organization can reapply for the CARE program if it still qualifies under the current CARE program eligibility guidelines.

To request a new application or renewal application by mail, call 1-866-743-2273 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.

Eligibility

MFHCs operated by the Office of Migrant Services (OMS) or nonprofit entities can get monthly energy bill discounts through the CARE program.

Apply for CARE if your entity meets these program guidelines:

• The facility must provide pursuant to section 50710 of the Health and Safety Code or meet the definition in Subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code. The facility must also have an exemption from local property taxes pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
• The facility must provide a copy of a current contract with the OMS, or a copy of tax-exempt documentation.
• Separate applications must be filed for each type of facility, even if they are under one licensed organization.
• Facilities must notify PG&E if they no longer qualify for the CARE discount.

How do I download an application for my MFHC?

Download the CARE Migrant Farmworker Housing Centers (MFHC) application (PDF). Forms in languages other than English can be found in the "Forms and Guides" tab.

How do I submit a CARE application for my MFHC?

First, complete and sign the application. Next, submit your application using one of the following ways:

• Submit your application by mail or fax
  PG&E CARE/FERA program
  P.O. Box 29647
  Oakland, CA 94604-9647
  
  Fax: 1-877-302-7563
  
  
• Submit your application by email
  Email the completed application to CAREandFERA@pge.com.
  
  Write "MFHC" in the email's subject line. Remember to attach your application to the email.

Renew CARE for an MFHC

Organizations must recertify every four years. To recertify, complete a new application and attach proof of the following items:

• A copy of your current contract with the Office of Migrant Services OR your Federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption OR your state tax exemption form along with your local property tax exemption form
• A statement of how the entity used the discount during the previous year to directly benefit facility residents

PG&E sends a recertification application three months before a discount expires.

• Your organization can reapply for the CARE program if it still qualifies under the current CARE program eligibility program.

To request an application by mail, call 1-866-743-2273 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.

• English, CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• 中文, CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• Việt, CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• Español, CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• English, Large-Print CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• 中文, Large-Print CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• Việt, Large-Print CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)
• Español, Large-Print CARE/FERA Sub-Metered Residential Facilities Application (PDF)

• English, CARE Nonprofit Group Living Facilities Application (PDF)
• English, CARE Agricultural Employee Housing Facilities Application (PDF)
• English, CARE Migrant Farm Working Housing Centers Application in English (PDF)

• English, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• English, Large-Print Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• Español, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• Tagalog, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• 中文, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• Việt, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• 한국어, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• Hmong, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)
• Pоссии, Understand Your Bill, Learn About Baseline Allowances and Get Money-Saving Tips (PDF)

The discount is applied for two years. If you are on a fixed income, the discount is applied for four years.

• About three months before the discount expires, PG&E sends a letter and an application. If you still qualify under the current program guidelines at that time, you can reapply.

Proof of income is not required during the application process. However, we may select you to provide income proof later.

The discount will appear on the next bill you receive.

Single-family households:

The phrase: "CARE Discount" appears on the first page of your bill. Find it under the heading, "Your Enrolled Programs." Access a  sample bill (PDF).

Sub-metered tenants:

1. We send letters to both tenants and landlords welcoming them to the CARE program.
2. The landlord is then responsible for passing the CARE discount through to the tenant.

 Note: The discount should appear on the energy statements that tenants receive from their landlords.

No. Each family must have a separate meter to receive the CARE discount.

We encourage you to reapply whenever your income situation changes. Proof of income is required if you reapply within 24 months of being denied CARE benefits.

 Note: The income guidelines change each year in June. 

No. You must be enrolled in the CARE program to receive the discount. Retroactive discounts do not apply if you are not enrolled in the CARE program.

There are two ways to submit your post-enrollment verification form online. Sign into your account:

If you see a red "alerts banner" at the top of your screen:

1. Select "Show More" to open additional alerts.
2. Find PG&E's request to submit income verification documents.
3. Select the link and follow the steps to complete your income verification.

If you do not see a red "alerts banner" at the top of your screen:

1. Go to “Payment Options" -->
2. "Assistance Programs" -->
3. "CARE/FERA" -->
4. "Verify your income."

If you have tried these options, but are still unable to complete the process, it is possible that you are attempting to recertify:

• Too early—more than 60 days before your CARE enrollment expires or
• Too late—after your enrollment expiration date

If you are within 60 days of your enrollment expiration, and still cannot recertify online, call 1-800-660-6789 to resolve the issue.

Find more information on how to renew CARE online. 

The CARE and FERA programs provide a monthly discount for income-qualified households. However, each program offers a different type of energy discount and has different eligibility guidelines:

CARE offers a minimum 20 percent discount on gas and electric rates. To qualify for the CARE discount, someone in your household must:

• Already participate in certain public assistance programs, or
• Meet the guidelines for total annual household income

FERA offers an 18 percent discount on electric rates. FERA does not offer a discount on gas rates. To qualify for the FERA discount, your household must:

• Have three or more people
• Meet the guidelines for total annual household income

 Note: CARE and FERA share one application. If you do not qualify for CARE, we will check to see if you qualify for FERA.

Yes. CARE, FERA and Medical Baseline are state programs which provide a discounted rate for electricity to qualifying low-income households.

• These programs are administered to all customers by PG&E, including those who choose to receive service from a CCA.
• If you're enrolled in CARE/FERA/Medical Baseline and start service with a CCA, your account will remain enrolled in these programs. You’ll continue to receive your full discount under your new provider.
• New enrollments and re-enrollments for CARE/FERA/Medical Baseline must be done through PG&E.
  

Your income eligibility is based on current earnings of all persons living in your household.

1. Add the total annual income for all people in your household.
2. Check the income range on the income guidelines table to see if you are eligible for CARE.

Only use current and expected income for the next 12 months.

• Your annual income calculation should not include income earned from prior employment.
  • If you and/or other members of your household have experienced job loss or decreased wages, you may now qualify.

UI or PUA payments

Are you receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments under the Federal CARES act at the time of application?

• Use your EDD award letter to calculate income based on how many weeks you are scheduled to receive payment.

Refer to the "Maximum Benefit Amount." At enrollment, this should be the maximum amount you would be scheduled to receive.

View a list of PG&E's CARE Community Outreach Contactors (PDF) here.

If you are interested in becoming a contractor to help residential customers enroll in the CARE program, please follow these steps: 

1. Complete the CARE Community Outreach Contractor Intake form (PDF)
2. Email the completed form to PG&E at CAREandFERA@pge.com