Thousands of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gas and electric customers may now be eligible to receive a discount on their monthly energy bill due to an adjustment in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program’s income qualifications that went into effect June 1.
Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect current federal poverty guidelines. The latest adjustment means more PG&E customers may now qualify for the program based on their pre-tax annual income, as follows:
•One to two member households go from $30,500 to $31,300.
•Three member households go from $35,800 to $36,800.
•Four member households go from $43,200 to $44,400.
•Five member households go from $50,600 to $52,000.
•Six member households go from $58,000 to $59,600.
Each additional person in a household raises the income qualification by another $7,600.
On average, CARE saves households $46 per month on their gas and electric bill. Since the program’s inception in 1989, PG&E customers enrolled in CARE have saved more than $3.7 billion on their energy bills.
Currently more than 1.4 million customers throughout PG&E’s service area are enrolled in CARE. Thousands of additional households in Northern and Central California are eligible for CARE, but not yet enrolled.
Eligible PG&E customers can apply for CARE by going online to www.pge.com/care and be enrolled in the program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle.
Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect current federal poverty guidelines. The latest adjustment means more PG&E customers may now qualify for the program based on their pre-tax annual income, as follows:
•One to two member households go from $30,500 to $31,300.
•Three member households go from $35,800 to $36,800.
•Four member households go from $43,200 to $44,400.
•Five member households go from $50,600 to $52,000.
•Six member households go from $58,000 to $59,600.
Each additional person in a household raises the income qualification by another $7,600.
On average, CARE saves households $46 per month on their gas and electric bill. Since the program’s inception in 1989, PG&E customers enrolled in CARE have saved more than $3.7 billion on their energy bills.
Currently more than 1.4 million customers throughout PG&E’s service area are enrolled in CARE. Thousands of additional households in Northern and Central California are eligible for CARE, but not yet enrolled.
Eligible PG&E customers can apply for CARE by going online to www.pge.com/care and be enrolled in the program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle.
