Ways to Lower Your Bill

From monthly discounts to flexible payment options, we’re here to help you save on your electricity bill. Learn about available programs below and see if you qualify. 

See our Energy Savings Tips to learn about free ways to reduce energy use at home and save money on your electricity bill.

MONTHLY BILL DISCOUNTS

CARE and FERA programs

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CleanPowerSF customers can receive a monthly discount on their energy bills through the CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) and FERA (Family Electric Rates Assistance) programs. You qualify for CARE or FERA based on your household income or by participating in certain public assistance programs (like Food Stamps or Medicaid). 

  • Save up to 35% on your electricity bill 

  • Signing up takes less than 5 minutes

  • No proof of income required to enroll

CARE and FERA are State programs run by PG&E. As a CleanPowerSF customer, you submit your application through PG&E, but the discount is applied to both the PG&E and CleanPowerSF portion of the bill. The CARE discount is applied equally to both CleanPowerSF customers and PG&E bundled service customers.

Enroll Now: Online: pge.com/carefera. By phone: Call PG&E at (866) 743-2273.

Debt Forgiveness Program Available for CARE and FERA Customers: You may qualify for a new debt forgiveness program available to CARE and FERA customers who have overdue bills. The Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) program forgives your overdue electricity and gas bill debt (up to $8,000) as you make on-time monthly payments on your current energy bill.

Enroll and learn more through PG&E: pge.com/amp or call PG&E at (800) 743-5000.

Resources & Links

Medical Baseline

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If you have a medical condition that requires greater energy use to power your medical devices or support independent living, you can lower your energy bill through the Medical Baseline program. This program allows customers to receive more energy (electricity and gas) at the lowest rate.

  • Lower your monthly energy bill

  • Receive advanced notice for Public Safety Power Shutoff events

Medical Baseline is a State program run by PG&E. As a CleanPowerSF customer, you submit a Medical Baseline application through PG&E.

Enroll Now: Online: pge.com/medicalbaseline. By phone: Call PG&E at (800) 743-5000.

Eligibility for Medical Baseline

To qualify for Medical Baseline you must have a qualifying medical condition and/or require use of a qualifying medical device to treat ongoing medical conditions.

Examples of qualifying medical conditions:

  • Paraplegic, hemiplegic or quadriplegic condition
  • Multiple sclerosis with additional heating and/or cooling needs
  • Scleroderma with additional heating needs
  • Life-threatening illness or compromised immune system, and additional heating and/or cooling are needed to sustain life or prevent medical deterioration
  • Asthma and/or sleep apnea

Examples of qualifying medical devices (complete list):

  • Motorized wheelchair/scooter
  • IPPB or CPAP machines
  • Respirator (all types)
  • Hemodialysis machine
  • Iron lung

BUDGET BILLING AND PAYMENT PLANS

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BUDget Billing

Budget billing allows you to pay your energy costs across equal monthly payments. On this plan, you’ll pay an average cost across 12-months of usage, meaning your bill will stay relatively the same each month. The average CleanPowerSF residential customer sees a rise of up to 20% on their electricity bill in the period between November and April. Your energy usage can change for a variety of reasons, such as using heaters to warm your home during the winter.

  • Free to enroll

  • Averages out your monthly energy cost

  • Avoid potential spikes in cost during winter months

Enroll Now: Online: pge.com/BudgetBilling. By phone: Call PG&E at (800) 743-5000.

How Budget Billing Works

Using your energy use history, PG&E will level out your monthly payment amount, so if your energy usage changes significantly from season to season, you won’t see big spikes in cost on your bills. Find out what your estimated monthly payment could be at pge.com/BudgetBilling.

Resources and Links

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANs

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Need more time to pay? There are several options available:

  • Installments allow you to spread your current balance over several months for up to 12 installments.

  • Extension lets you pay the entire amount at a later date. Simply input the date on which you want to pay the full amount.

  • Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) is a new payment plan program available to customers with overdue energy bills who are enrolled in CARE or FERA. AMP forgives your overdue electricity and gas bill debt (up to $8,000) as you make on-time monthly payments on your current energy bill. Remember, you must be enrolled in CARE or FERA to qualify so review the CARE and FERA enrollment guidelines if you are not already signed up!

Learn More: Online: pge.com/HelpMePay. By phone: Call PG&E at (800) 743-5000.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

LIHEAP

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The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides a yearly credit on your utility bill. Total bill assistance provided will be based on various factors including household size and the outstanding amount on the energy bill. You can qualify for LIHEAP based on your household income. Funds are subject to availability.

In San Francisco, LIHEAP is a run by Peninsula Energy Services (PES).

Enroll Now: Contact Peninsula Energy Services at (415) 416-6660.

Save More Money: If you qualify and enroll in LIHEAP, you are also eligible for the free Weatherization Assistance Program which can help you reduce your energy costs by making safety and energy saving improvements to your home (like installations of windows, smoke alarms, and floor insulation). Peninsula Energy Services runs both LIHEAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program so you can ask them about both!

REACH

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The Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program helps you pay off overdue energy bills. If you meet the income requirements (which are the same as the CARE program) and have received a 15-day or a 48-hour disconnection notice, you may qualify. REACH provides up to $500 to pay the PG&E portion of your overdue bill. Funds are subject to availability.

In San Francisco, REACH is run by the Dollar Energy Fund.

Enroll Now: Contact the Dollar Energy Fund at (800) 933-9677.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS/CREDITS

california climate credit

Every spring and fall, California utility customers receive credits on their electric and natural gas bills. Funding for the credit comes from California’s Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program to address climate change. 

As a CleanPowerSF customer, you are eligible for this credit and will see it automatically applied to your electric and gas bills.

This year, CleanPowerSF customers can expect to receive up to a $140 credit if you pay for both natural gas and electricity service. For customers that pay only for electricity service, you will receive a $55 credit. In addition to residential customers, eligible small businesses will also receive a climate credit. Learn more about the California Climate Credit for residential and small business customers here.

California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP)

The California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act to address energy debt that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. CleanPowerSF applied to CAPP on behalf of its customers and provided $2.4 million in assistance for CleanPowerSF customers. CleanPowerSF also recently secured an additional $1.24 million.