California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE)
If you meet certain eligibility guidelines, you may receive a 20% discount on your SDG&E bill. To qualify for the California Alternate Rates for Energy program (CARE), the "total combined annual income" for your household is determined by all money and non-cash benefits available for living expenses from all sources, both taxable and non-taxable, before deductions for all people who live in your home. The SDG&E bill the residence must be in the name of the person filling out the application, and the application must be renewed upon request.
If you apply for the CARE Program, please be advised that SDG&E has the right to verify your income with payroll stubs and tax forms. In addition, income information may be shared with your other energy utility, if applicable. Call SDG&E at (800) 411 - 7343 to ask for a CARE application and be sure to send your application to SDG&E via certified mail.
Income limits are effective June 1, 2008, through May 31, 2009
Maximum Household Income
|
Number of persons in Household |
Total Combined Annual Income |
| 1 or 2 | $30,500 |
| 3 | $35,800 |
| 4 | $43,200 |
| 5 | $50,600 |
| 6 | $58,000 |
| Add $7,400 for each additional person | |
If you qualify, click here for the application that you can print and mail in.
If you qualify for CARE, then you also qualify for having a free energy audit for your residence with free energy conservation upgrades! If you are a senior who is 60 years old or older are, you can earn more than the CARE guidelines and still qualify for the free home energy audit. Click here for more information about The Energy Team.
To apply, contact your utility company directly:
PG&E: 1-866-PGE-CARE (1-866-743-2273)
SDG&E: 1-800-411-SDGE (7343)
Edison: 1-800-447-6620
SoCalGas: 1-800-427-2200
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pg&e care and landlord
Sounds like it is time for a lawyer, sue both landlord and PGE. Suing PGE and winning may give you enough money to move to a place with a better landlord. Or you could contact the state utility commision and they will handle the case for free, though you may not get any money from it but you will get your good name back and get your discount back. Good luck, and don't continue to be a doormat!
PG&E denial of CARE qualifications
I was minding my own business when one day, my landlord started letting others use electricity through my meter. He offered to pay for any extra usage. Because of medical and CARE discounts I was receiving, I got a little paranoid about it being fraud so had my landlord change the electricity into his own name with me paying him, until such time as he didn't have others using it. That day finally came and he asked me to change the electricity back into my name but PG&E says, "Not so fast!" My landlord is one of a million others caught in the $700 billion housing market debacle [rather, those not bailed out] with other acct balances for newly constructed homes though, since lost, that remain outstanding. PG&E says that until my landlord pays all these outstanding balances [including - somewhere - my home] that I am forbidden to have the electricity at this address changed back into my name. FYI - I have no outstanding balance with PG&E. PG&E is putting us in the same frame as "roommates". That we're actually landlord-tenant has no bearing. PG&E changed their mind, requesting I fax all kinds of documents and personal info, which I did. PG&E gave me my own acct number and sent more papers and before I'd even received them, they changed their mind again. They're giving my landlord and me a different story almost every day of the week. CPUC same thing as told me to drop dead or sue my landlord [? what good will that do?]. Now PG&E is saying that although I'm eligible for the CARE discount, it's PG&E's discretion to deny me, because the electricity isn't in my name. My income is barely $10,500/year and the rates they're saddling me with are killing me - literally. I've provided them doctor certified documentation clearly stating that my health is dependent on their services. In return, they've assured me services are not [at this moment] being terminated at my address. What can I do?
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