When you’re struggling to keep up with your utility bills, it can feel impossible to catch up when they start to pile on.
Fortunately for Fresnans, local and state resources exist to help reduce or pay for utilities for customers and can assist those in risk of having their energy cut off. Here’s a list of programs you can apply for right now:
Fresno EOC
Fresno’s Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) offers one-time financial assistance to low-income households to pay for energy bills for any Fresno County resident.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open to any resident of Fresno County who needs assistance paying for electricity, gas, propane, wood or oil.
“A client can only be assisted one-payment (once a year) per contract,” said Cedric Hood, public affairs manager for Fresno EOC. “The maximum amount is $3,000 for eligible applicants.”
If you are at risk of having your energy cut off and have received a 24 or 48-hour disconnect notice, their Energy Crisis Intervention Program can also help stop your energy from being cut off.
In order to qualify for these programs, applicants must:
- Be a Fresno County Resident
- Currently live in a low-income household (click here to check your income eligibility)
- Have a valid SSID card
- Provide proof of income (pay stubs from the last 6 weeks)
- Present a valid form of US identification (Driver’s License or California ID)
- Provide all pages of current energy bill OR shut-off notice OR a current electric/gas/wood/oil/propane receipt
The following documents must be provided for the application:
- A completed and signed application
- Valid SSID card
- Current energy bill
- Current income of all members of the household from the past 30 days
- Driver’s License or California ID of applicant
If applicable, the following documents are also needed:
- California ID of household members aged 60 and over
- Current food stamp verification form and low-income housing verification
- If no income is declared, additional documentation on how the household’s rent, utilities and food are being paid
You can apply by visiting this link. Applications can be filled out online or downloaded and mailed to the following address:
Mail the LIHEAP application to P.O. BOX 11906, Fresno, CA 93775
Assistance with the application is also available at 559-263-1320.
PG&E financial assistance – CARE and FERA
PG&E offers multiple programs to assist in paying or reducing your monthly utility bill.
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program offers a discount of 20% or more to qualifying applicants. Click here to see if you are eligible.
PG&E also offers the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program to households of three or more. Qualifying households receive an 18% discount on their monthly electricity bill. Click here to see if you qualify.
Both programs share the same application, so if you don’t qualify for CARE, PG&E will check to see if you qualify for FERA. You will be asked to create or sign into your PG&E account in order to access the application. If you don’t have an account or don’t want to create one, click here to sign in using one-time access.
In order to qualify for the CARE or FERA program, you must meet the following requirements:
- The PG&E bill must be in your name
- You must live at the address to which the discount applies
- Another person (besides your spouse) can’t claim you as a dependent on an income tax return
- You cannot share an energy meter with another home
- Provide sources of all household income
- You/Your household must meet the program income guidelines (click here to view income guidelines table for both CARE and FERA)
- You must notify PG&E if your household no longer qualifies for the CARE discount
- After you enroll, you may need to provide proof of qualifying household income
- You may also be required to participate in the Energy Savings Assistance program
- Your monthly electric usage must not exceed six times the Tier 1 allowance.
- Tier 1 is the lowest-priced rate tier within PG&E’s standard Tiered Base Plan
- You must renew your eligibility every two years.
- If you’re on a fixed income, you must renew your eligibility every four years
Copies of income documentation such as wages, salaries, scholarships, pensions and social security must be presented during the application process. A full list of what income documentation is needed (if applicable) can be found here.
To apply, click here. Additional application languages and mail-in applications can be found here.
Note: A previous version of this story included details about a United Way utility assistance program. That program is not accepting applications at the moment.
Fresnoland reporter Gregory Weaver contributed to this story.
I believe PGE has to much power and what you expect me and those who are on a fixed income has to pay for what is clearly over priced and the programs offered pays little help. PGE rates are unfare and it puts a burden on those who live at poverty levels and who are on a fixed income and we have no choice but to pay these rates and will suffer and have to suffer the consequences in other ways that includes going hungry and the prices we pay at the grocery store is out of control and the hardship will be seen with more people who will do things that are illegal and crime will go up and your company will be partly to blame for the spike in crime. Also I am having to pay for water that is usually taken care of when living in apartments and those rates are out of control and how they figure how much I use for water and trash and paying a service fee and who is clearly ripping the people off who lives in apartments and who reads the water meter. You all are unfair and clearly robbing us blind.