See if you qualify for an 18% discount on your electricity.
Urgent Alert
The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program helps eligible customers pay their energy bill. Income-qualified customers get an 18% monthly discount on electric rates. Participants must be a household with three or more people.
Note: CARE and FERA share one application. If you do not qualify for FERA, we will check to see if you qualify for CARE. Learn more about CARE. In addition, other financial assistance resources and support are available.
- Eligibility
- Enrollment
- Post-enrollment verification
- Forms and guides
- Frequently asked questions
Get started with FERA
To qualify for FERA as a PG&E customer, you must:
- Have a PG&E bill in your name
- Are you a sub-metered tenant? The energy bill from the landlord must be in your name
- Live at the address to which the discount applies
- Not be claimed by another person—other than your spouse—as a dependent on an income tax return
- Not share an energy meter with another home
- Account for all sources of qualifying household income
- Meet the program income guidelines
- Provide proof of qualifying household income to remain on the program
- After you enroll, we may select you for income verification.
- Notify PG&E if your household no longer qualifies for the FERA discount
You must renew your eligibility every two years.
- If you're on a fixed income, you must renew your eligibility every four years.
Your eligibility is based on your household income.
- Add all household members' incomes from all eligible sources for your total gross annual household income.
- Compare your total combined gross annual household income against the income guidelines table below.
- Your household must be at or below the amounts shown in the income guidelines table below.
Household income includes all taxable and nontaxable revenues from all people living in the home. It includes, but is not limited to the following sources:
- Wages
- Salaries
- Interest and dividends
- Spousal and child support payments
- Public assistance payments
- Social Security and pensions
- Housing and military subsidies
- Rental income
- Self-employment income
- All employment-related, non-cash income
For more income guidelines, explore the required income documents.
FERA enrollment
Enroll in, cancel and renew FERA—plus, important information for PG&E customers currently enrolled in FERA.
Appy for FERA
If your household meets the eligibility and income requirements, it's easy to apply for a monthly discount on your electric bill through FERA.
- If you don't have an online account, use one-time access.
- No additional documentation is needed at the time of application.
- Your answers are confidential.
Applications in multiple languages
- Online applications:
- English, apply or renew now for CARE/FERA
- Español, Solicite ahora Programas CARE/FERA — Inscripción/Re-inscripción
- 中文, 申請 CARE/FERA計劃-申請或從新申請 -第 1 步
- Việt, Các ứng dụng trực tuyến không khả dụng
- Mail-in applications:
- Large-print, mail-in applications:
Enrollment for tenants in sub-metered locations
Tenants of sub-metered buildings must submit a mail-in application. Apply via email, mail or FAX.
Note: Tenants of sub-metered residential facilities cannot apply through the CARE/FERA online application.
- By email
- Download the CARE/FERA Sub-metered Residential Application (English) (PDF).
- Forms in languages other than English can be found in the "Forms and Guides" tab.
- By mail
- To receive a CARE/FERA Sub-metered Residential Application in the mail, call 1-800-743-5000 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
- Send the complete application to:
- To receive a CARE/FERA Sub-metered Residential Application in the mail, call 1-800-743-5000 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
PG&E
FERA PROGRAM
PO BOX 29647
Oakland, CA 94604-9647
- By FAX
- FAX your application to 1-877-302-7563.
You must renew your enrollment every two years—or four years if you are on a fixed income. We'll remind you when it's time to re-enroll.
Have you received a renewal request?
- If you’ve received a renewal request, renew now.
- You may also renew if you’re within 90 days of the date your current enrollment expires.
If you still qualify under the current program guidelines, you can reapply to FERA.
Access the form in Spanish: Programas FERA - Inscripción/Re-inscripción
Access the form in Chinese: FERA 計劃 - 申請或從新申請 - 第 1 步
To cancel your enrollment and/or opt out of future CARE/FERA communications:
- Email CAREandFERA@pge.com
- Call 1-866-743-2273
Your PG&E bill contains a lot of valuable information, including:
- Your FERA savings
- Programs you're enrolled in
- Other useful account information
How to keep saving with FERA
- Turn on alerts to keep your monthly energy usage below 400% of your Baseline Allowance.
- Renew your enrollment every two years. Renew every four years if you are on a fixed income.
- We'll remind you when it's time to re-enroll.
Note: We may ask for proof of your eligibility in the future. This is to maximize the discounts available through FERA.
Conduct a home energy checkup
You'll receive a customized plan to help you save energy.
Proof of income
Proof of income is not required when you apply for FERA.
- You may be selected to provide income verification at any time.
- If we do not hear from you by the date specified in the letter, your discount will be removed.
Questions?
Email CAREandFERA@pge.com or call 1-866-743-2273.
- Download the verification form and income document guide:
- FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- Download and review the CARE/FERA Income Document Guide (PDF)
- Forms and guides in languages other than English can be found in the drawers below.
- To submit online, sign into your account, or
Mail or fax the completed documents to:
PG&E CARE/FERA program
PO BOX 29647
Oakland, CA 94604-9647
Fax: 1-877-302-7563
Who is selected for high usage post-enrollment verification?
- Customers whose energy usage exceeds 400% of their Baseline Allowance three times in a 12-month period.
- The California Public Utilities Commission requires that you participate in the Program High Usage Post-Enrollment Verification process.
- The California Public Utilities Commission requires that you participate in the Program High Usage Post-Enrollment Verification process.
- You must submit documentation within 45 days of our request to verify your income. Failing to do so may result in the loss of your discount.
Follow these steps:
- Download a FERA high usage post-enrollment verification form: FERA High Usage Form (PDF)
- Forms in languages other than English can be found in the drawers below.
- Forms in languages other than English can be found in the drawers below.
To submit it online, sign into your account, or
Mail or fax the completed documents to:
PG&E CARE/FERA program
PO BOX 29647
Oakland, CA 94604-9647Fax: 1-877-302-7563
- English, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- English, Large-Print FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- Español, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- 中文, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- Việt, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
FERA resources
Scroll down to find the following PDF documents:
- FERA enrollment print applications
- FERA enrollment sub-metered tenants print applications
- Other FERA print applications
- Post-enrollment verification request forms
- Post-enrollment verification forms for high usage
- Guide to required income documentation
- Understand your bill
- Baseline allowance
- Money-saving tips
Most forms are available in:
- English
- Large-print English
- Español
- 中文
- Việt
- English, CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- 中文, CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- Việt, CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- Español, CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- English, Large-Print CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- 中文, Large-Print CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- Việt, Large-Print CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
- Español, Large-Print CARE/FERA Application (PDF)
FERA enrollment sub-metered tenants print applications
- 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, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- English, Large-Print FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- Español, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- 中文, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (PDF)
- Việt, FERA Post-Enrollment Verification Request Form (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)
FERA program FAQ
Still can't find an answer to your question? Email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
- 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 randomly select you to provide income proof at a later date.
The discount will appear on the next bill you receive.
- The phrase "FERA Discount" appears on the first page of your bill, under the "Your Enrolled Programs" heading.
- The FERA Discount is also listed on the "Details of Electric Charges" section of your bill.
No. Each family must have a separate meter to receive the FERA 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 FERA benefits.
Note: The income guidelines change each year in June.
No. You may only participate in one of the two programs at any given time. You can apply for FERA when your income meets the FERA income guidelines.
No. You may only participate in one of the two programs at any given time. You can apply for CARE when your income meets the CARE income guidelines.
Call the FERA program at 1-800-743-5000 or send an email to CAREandFERA@pge.com.
Your income eligibility is based on current earnings of all persons living in your household.
- Add the total annual income for all people in your household.
- Check the income range on the income guidelines table to see if you are eligible for FERA.
Use only 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.
Are you receiving 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? You can 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 since at the time of enrollment this should be the maximum amount you would be scheduled to receive.
More resources and support
Additional discounts
Find information about discounts on phone and internet services.
Take the Home Energy Checkup
- Take the 5-minute Home Energy Checkup.
- Identify sources of wasted energy in your household.
- Get a custom savings plan to lower monthly bills.
Budget Billing
Budget Billing is a free tool that averages your annual energy costs to help you manage your bills.
- Level out monthly payments.
- Offset high seasonal bills.