Energy and Bill Help

High energy bills hit hard, especially for elders, families with young children, and anyone who relies on power for medical needs. This page is for Muwekma Ohlone tribal members, Ohlone people, members of other California tribes that are not federally recognized, and the wider California Indian community.

Most programs on this page are open to any eligible household. Eligibility is based on income, household size, and where you live, not on tribal status. Income limits change every year, so please check each program's current numbers.

Behind on a bill, or facing a shutoff?

  • Call your utility right away. The California Public Utilities Commission lists PG&E's energy assistance line as 1-866-743-2273.
  • PG&E REACH: A one-time energy credit of up to $800 toward the past-due part of a PG&E bill for customers who qualify, applied for through Dollar Energy Fund. Funding is first-come, first-served and limited. Customers enrolled in AMP (below) are not eligible for REACH. Open to all eligible PG&E customers.
  • LIHEAP energy bill help: The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, run in California by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) through local providers. It can offer a one-time payment toward heating or cooling bills (including wood, propane, or oil), help in an energy crisis such as a disconnection, and weatherization services. CSD notes that funding is limited and local providers put the most vulnerable households first. Find your local LIHEAP provider by entering your county, city, and ZIP code. Open to all eligible households.

Lower your monthly bill

  • CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy): For income-qualified households, the CPUC lists a 30 to 35 percent discount on electric bills and a 20 percent discount on natural gas bills with the large utilities. You may also qualify if you are enrolled in programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh/SNAP, WIC, SSI, LIHEAP, TANF or Tribal TANF, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, or Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only). PG&E customers can apply on PG&E's CARE page. Open to all eligible households.
  • FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance): An 18 percent electric discount for households whose income is a little above the CARE limits. It is offered by PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. PG&E's CARE page lets you check whether you qualify for CARE or FERA. Open to all eligible households.
  • PG&E Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): If you are enrolled in CARE or FERA and have past-due balances, you may be eligible for up to $8,000 in debt forgiveness after 12 full, on-time monthly payments. Open to eligible CARE and FERA customers.
  • PG&E Medical Baseline: Extra support for residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. A medical practitioner certifies eligibility. Open to eligible PG&E customers.
  • All PG&E financial assistance programs: PG&E's full list of bill-help options.

Phone and internet

  • California LifeLine: Discounts on home phone and cell phone service for qualified households, one discount per household. To start, call a participating phone company and ask for the California LifeLine discount, or use the provider search at californialifeline.com. Open to all eligible households.

Tribal energy programs

Many federally recognized tribes run their own LIHEAP programs for their members. The U.S. Administration for Children and Families keeps a tribal LIHEAP contact list. These programs serve the members and service areas set by each tribe, which in practice means federally recognized tribes. If you are not a member of one, use the statewide LIHEAP provider finder above. Households in tribes that are not federally recognized can still apply through their local LIHEAP provider.

Please read

This list is a starting point. Funding, discounts, and income limits change, often every year. Please confirm eligibility directly with each program or your utility.

Listings were checked on November 10, 2026. Know a bill-help program we should add? Please contact us.