If you’re having difficulty paying your utility bills, you might be one of many San Diegans eligible for a variety of assistance programs offered by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to help customers manage energy costs.
SDG&E recognizes that many families have trouble making ends meet, and we want to help ease the burden by offering ways for our customers to save money and energy.
“Whether living on a fixed income or even struggling with temporary financial hardship, we urge our customers to call us or visit our website so we can help them get the discounts and bill payment assistance they deserve,” Mitchell said.
Some of the assistance programs SDG&E offers include:
“¢ California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) provides a 20 percent discount on monthly energy bills to income-qualified residential customers based on the number of people living in a home and total household income from all sources.
For example, a household of four people earning $41,000 is eligible for CARE.
“¢ Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) provides a discount for households with three or more persons who meet income guidelines once electric usage reaches a certain level.
Qualifications are based on the number of people living in the household and the total household income from all sources.
“¢ Medical baseline offers energy at the lowest, or baseline, rate if someone in the household has a medical condition requiring heat, air conditioning or life-support equipment.
Household income is not a factor for qualifying, but a doctor certification is required for participation.
“¢ SDG&E’s energy team provides no-cost energy-saving home improvements to income qualified homeowners and renters.
Eligible participants may also receive select new energy-efficient appliances, energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and a variety of other measures which may include attic insulation, low-flow showerheads, door weather-stripping and caulking, water heater blankets, and limited appliance repair and/or replacement.
Income qualifications are the same as the CARE program. Customers can call the energy team toll free at (866) 597-0597.
To determine which program you may be eligible for, request brochures or to get an application for the programs mentioned above, call SDG&E at (800) 411-SDGE (7343), or visit www.sdge.com.
” Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell is regional vice president, external affairs, for San Diego Gas & Electric, a Sempra Energy Co.