Utility Bill Help in California
- Last updated
- October 10, 2026
- Read time
- 5 min
Key points
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay for heat and power. In 2026, one person in California can get it with income up to $3,331 a month. For two people, the state says the limit is $4,356 a month.
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) is a discount program. It takes 30% to 35% off your electric bill and 20% off your gas bill. If you have Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or CalFresh, you can qualify.
- Medical Baseline gives people who use medical equipment at home extra energy at the lowest price, with no income limit.
- The big utilities cannot cut power for an unpaid bill when 100-degree heat or 32-degree cold is forecast.
If you're new to this, start with how LIHEAP and other utility help work. This page covers California: 2026 limits, where to apply, CARE, Medical Baseline and more time to pay.
In California, LIHEAP is run by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) through a local agency in each area. It can pay part of your energy bill, help stop a shutoff, or make your home use less energy. California got $236.7 million for it in 2026. If a heat wave has your bill climbing, or you need power for oxygen, start here.
You may qualify if
- You pay an energy bill for your home.
- Your household makes less than $3,331 a month for one person, or $4,356 for two, in 2026. Some local agencies use a lower limit, so ask yours.
- For CARE, you make less than $43,280 a year for one or two people, or you get Medi-Cal, SSI, CalFresh or LIHEAP.
Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because your local agency decides and you can sign up for CARE with your utility the same day. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you apply.
California programs that lower energy bills
| Program | Who it is for (2026) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| LIHEAP bill help | Income under the limits above | A one-time payment toward your energy bill, from your local agency |
| LIHEAP crisis help | A 24 to 48 hour shutoff notice, a shutoff, or an unsafe gas appliance | Help to keep or restore service, or make the home safe |
| LIHEAP weatherization | Income under the LIHEAP limits | Free energy upgrades that lower your monthly bill |
| CARE | Up to $43,280 a year for 1 or 2 people, or Medi-Cal, SSI, CalFresh | 30% to 35% off electric, 20% off gas |
| Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) | Up to $54,100 a year for 1 or 2 people | 18% off electric |
| Medical Baseline | Medical equipment or certain conditions at home, any income | Extra energy at the lowest price, and more alerts before power shutoffs |
| Energy Savings Assistance | CARE income limits | No-cost insulation, weatherstripping and some new appliances |
CARE and FERA limits apply through May 31, 2027.
What is Medical Baseline?
Medical Baseline is a program from your gas and electric company for people who need power for their health. It bills extra energy at the lowest price. At PG&E that's about 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity or 25 therms of gas a month. SCE adds 16.5 kilowatt-hours a day.
You can qualify if someone living with you uses oxygen, a sleep apnea machine (CPAP), a dialysis machine or a hospital bed. Some conditions count too, like multiple sclerosis, and your doctor or nurse practitioner signs part of the form. You can have CARE and Medical Baseline at the same time, but you still have to pay your bill.
How do I get more time to pay?
To get more time to pay, call your utility before the due date and ask for a payment plan. PG&E, for example, lets you split what you owe into monthly payments, or move a due date up to 30 days out. Keep paying each new bill too, because if you break the plan, the utility can shut off service.
If you have CARE or FERA and owe a lot, ask if the Arrearage Management Plan is still open. It has forgiven old debt for people who pay on time for 12 months.
How to apply
- Find your local agency, since it runs LIHEAP where you live. Go to csd.ca.gov and type your city or ZIP code, or call CSD at 1-866-675-6623. Local offices are also on our Los Angeles and San Diego pages.
- Apply with that agency, and ask how it takes applications. If you have a shutoff notice, say so first, so they can check for crisis help.
- Sign up for CARE the same day, because it lowers every bill. Call your utility: PG&E 1-866-743-5832, SCE 1-800-655-4555, SDG&E 1-800-411-7343, SoCalGas 1-800-427-2200.
- Ask for a Medical Baseline form if anyone at home uses medical equipment, to get the extra energy. Your doctor fills in a part and signs it.
- If you're turned down, ask the agency how to appeal.
Your rights before a shutoff
- Extreme weather stops shutoffs. There are no shutoffs for an unpaid bill when the 72-hour forecast is 100 degrees or more, or 32 or less.
- A worker must visit first. For a home on Medical Baseline or life support, the big utilities must send a worker within 48 hours of a shutoff. The same goes if you tell them a shutoff would put someone's serious illness at risk.
- Ask the state for help. If the utility won't work with you, call the board that oversees it. That's the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), at 1-800-649-7570.
City utilities set their own rules, so check with yours. The biggest is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
What a Pair Team advocate does
When a California patient calls us about an energy bill, it's rarely the only bill. Medi-Cal paperwork, rent and food money often come up in the same call, so here's what we do:
- Check, in one call, whether you can get LIHEAP, CARE and Medical Baseline.
- Apply with you at your local agency, and sign you up for CARE.
- Get the Medical Baseline form to your doctor, then follow up until it shows on your bill.
- Help with what usually comes with it: Medi-Cal, CalFresh, medical equipment, rides and housing.
An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.
Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate
Frequently asked questions
How much does LIHEAP pay in California?
How much LIHEAP pays in California depends on your income, household size and energy costs. Money is limited, so some people who qualify may not get a payment, CSD says. Ask your local agency what to expect.
I have LADWP or another city utility. What can I get?
With LADWP or another city utility, you can still apply for LIHEAP. CARE, FERA and Medical Baseline are for the utilities the CPUC oversees. LADWP has its own discounts for older adults, people with disabilities and people who use life-support equipment.
Do I have to renew Medical Baseline?
Yes, you have to renew Medical Baseline. At SCE, a permanent condition means a short form every four years, and other conditions need a doctor's form every two years.
Why did my SDG&E Medical Baseline savings go down in 2026?
Your SDG&E Medical Baseline savings went down, but you still get the extra energy, and your shutoff protections stay the same. SDG&E now shows the discount as its own line. It says the discount will move from about 36% to about 20% over four years.
Can I get LIHEAP and CARE at the same time?
Yes, you can get both, and getting LIHEAP qualifies you for CARE. CARE lowers every bill, and LIHEAP is a one-time payment, so sign up for both.
Sources
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, CSD
- LIHEAP Income Eligibility, CSD
- Contact Us, CSD
- CARE/FERA Program, CPUC
- Medical Baseline, CPUC
- Decision 12-03-054 on Practices to Reduce Disconnections, CPUC
- Disconnect Policies, LIHEAP Clearinghouse
- Medical Baseline Program, PG&E
- Payment Plan and Due Date Extension, PG&E
- Medical Baseline Allowance, SCE
- Qualifying Based on Medical Need, SDG&E
- Senior Citizen/Disability Lifeline Rate, LADWP
About the author
Jeneli Almonte
Lead Care Manager
Jeneli Almonte is a Lead Care Manager at Pair Team. Since 2022, she has helped patients with benefits, housing and food.
Read bio
