Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has announced an expansion of the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program, now allowing more than 150,000 additional customers to qualify for an 18% discount on their electric rates. Previously, eligibility was limited to households with three or more people; the new criteria include one- and two-person households based on income levels.
Households with one or two members earning up to $52,875 annually can now apply for this assistance. In 2024, over 39,000 customers enrolled in FERA benefited from discounts totaling more than $21 million, averaging over $45 savings per month. Vincent Davis, PG&E’s senior vice president of customer experience, emphasized the importance of this expansion in providing meaningful savings and encouraged eligible customers to apply and share information about the program.
The eligibility guidelines were revised following the passage of Senate Bill 1130 in 2024, which removed the previous household size requirement and mandates utilities to report their enrollment efforts to the California Public Utilities Commission.
PG&E also offers various income-eligible assistance programs, including:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy: Provides a discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity bills, with lower qualifying income levels than FERA.
- Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help: Offers a one-time bill credit of up to $300 for eligible customers with a past-due balance.
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program: A federally funded program providing a one-time payment up to $1,500 for past-due bills to help low-income households with heating or cooling costs.
- Energy Savings Assistance Program: Delivers energy-saving improvements at no charge.
- Arrearage Management Plan: A debt forgiveness plan for eligible residential customers.
- Medical Baseline: Provides a bill reduction for customers needing power for medical reasons.
Customers can also reduce their energy bills through DIY energy efficiency improvements, potentially saving hundreds annually. To explore more options for managing monthly bills, customers should consider finding the best rate plan, utilizing the savings finder tool, enrolling in the budget billing program, and visiting pge.com/billhelp. For more information on the FERA program, customers can call 1-877-660-6789 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
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