PG&E Customers May Be Eligible For Lower Bills

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today estimated more than 100,000 households throughout Northern and Central California may be eligible to receive a discount on their monthly energy through the CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) program, but are not yet enrolled. 

Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adjusts the maximum qualifying household income levels for the CARE program to reflect current federal poverty guidelines.

With hot summer temperatures upon us, now is the ideal time for customers to compare their pre-tax, annual household income against the latest eligibility guidelines to determine if they now qualify for discounts on their gas and electric bills.

On average, the CARE program saves income-qualified households $50 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 $5.2 billion on their energy bills.

PG&E also encourages qualified CARE customers to take advantage of Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA). It provides free solutions like home improvements including compact fluorescent lights, caulking, showerheads, minor home repair and more as well as valuable energy savings tips to help income-qualified households manage their energy use and save money.

"The challenges for low income families are greater than ever so it is increasingly important that they have timely access to money-saving initiatives such as the CARE or ESA program," said Kate Comfort Harr, Executive Director of HIP Housing. "We very much appreciate PG&E's ongoing efforts to help bring greater awareness of their financial assistance programs to customers in Northern and Central California. We know our collaborative efforts and valuable partnerships will provide direct financial relief to many families in need."

More information about PG&E's financial assistance programs can be found at http://www.pge.com/financialassistance.  Households can see if they might qualify for CARE or ESA and complete an application online.  Qualified households will be enrolled in the CARE program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The CARE discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle. Following enrollment, customers may be asked to provide proof of qualifying household income, and agree to participate in the ESA program to remain enrolled in CARE.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)