Fresno PG&E Bill Help 2026–27: CARE and FERA Discounts, REACH Credits, AMP Debt Forgiveness and LIHEAP
Fresno summers are hot and winter heating bills add up, so many households fall behind on PG&E. PG&E has several programs that can lower the bill for good or help clear a past-due balance:
CARE cuts 35% or more off electricity and 20% or more off gas each month.
FERA gives an 18% monthly discount on electric rates for households that earn a bit too much for CARE.
REACH can put up to $800 toward a past-due bill after a disconnection notice.
AMP can forgive up to $8,000 of old debt for CARE and FERA customers who make 12 on-time payments.
Locally, Fresno EOC Energy Services runs LIHEAP, the federal program that helps pay energy bills, for Fresno County residents.
This guide explains each program, who qualifies and how to apply. Programs and funding change, so confirm details with PG&E or Fresno EOC before you apply.
Quick Contacts
| Need | Who to contact | |---|---| | CARE/FERA paper application or renewal by mail | PG&E, 1-866-743-2273, or CAREandFERA@pge.com | | Check AMP eligibility by phone | PG&E automated line, 1-877-660-6789 | | REACH energy credit | Apply online through Dollar Energy Fund (PG&E's REACH processor) | | LIHEAP and crisis help in Fresno County | Fresno EOC Energy Services, (559) 263-1320 | | Weatherization | Fresno EOC, (559) 263-1588 |
CARE: 35% or More Off Electricity, 20% or More Off Gas
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program gives a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity, compared with non-CARE customers.
Who Qualifies
PG&E says that to qualify for CARE:
the PG&E bill must be in your name (sub-metered tenants need the landlord's energy bill in their name),
you must live at the address that gets the discount,
no one other than your spouse can claim you as a dependent on a tax return,
you must not share an energy meter with another home, and
your monthly electric use must not be more than six times the Tier 1 allowance.
You can qualify in one of two ways: by income or through a benefit program.
Qualify Through a Benefit Program
You qualify if you or someone in your household gets any of these benefits:
CalFresh/SNAP
Medi-Cal or Medicaid (any age)
WIC
CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
LIHEAP
National School Lunch Program
Medi-Cal for Families (Healthy Families A & B)
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only)
CARE Income Limits
PG&E's current CARE/FERA application lists these limits for total gross annual household income. PG&E says the guidelines are valid through May 31, 2027.
| Household size | CARE: income at or below | |---|---| | 1–2 | $43,280 | | 3 | $54,640 | | 4 | $66,000 | | 5 | $77,360 | | 6 | $88,720 | | 7 | $100,080 | | 8 | $111,440 | | Each additional person | add $11,360 |
Count income from everyone in the home before taxes. That includes wages, Social Security, pensions, child and spousal support, public assistance, rental income, self-employment income and housing or military subsidies.
FERA: 18% Off for Households Just Above CARE
The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program gives income-qualified customers an 18% monthly discount on electric rates. It is designed for households with income slightly above the CARE limits.
| Household size | FERA: annual income range | |---|---| | 1–2 | $43,281–$54,100 | | 3 | $54,641–$68,300 | | 4 | $66,001–$82,500 | | 5 | $77,361–$96,700 | | 6 | $88,721–$110,900 | | 7 | $100,081–$125,100 | | 8 | $111,441–$139,300 |
CARE and FERA use the same application. PG&E says that if you do not qualify for FERA, it will check whether you qualify for CARE.
How to Apply for CARE or FERA
Online: PG&E says the form takes only a few minutes, and no documents are needed when you apply. Online forms are available in English, Spanish and Chinese.
By mail: Paper applications are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, including large print. To get one mailed to you, call 1-866-743-2273 or email CAREandFERA@pge.com.
After you enroll, PG&E may ask you to prove your household income. It may also ask you to take part in the Energy Savings Assistance program.
Keep your discount active. CARE customers must renew every two years, or every four years if they are on a fixed income. Tell PG&E if your household no longer qualifies.
REACH: Up to $800 After a Disconnection Notice
PG&E's Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program gives a one-time energy credit of up to $800 toward the past-due part of your bill. The credit is applied directly to your PG&E bill. Funding is first-come, first-served and depends on what is available.
To be eligible, PG&E says you must:
be listed as the main customer on the account (applications with secondary customer names are denied),
have received a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice,
not have received REACH help in the same calendar year, and
have household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, the same guidelines used for CARE.
Customers enrolled in AMP cannot get REACH. Apply online through Dollar Energy Fund, which processes REACH applications for PG&E. PG&E says it committed an extra $50 million in 2026 to extend bill help programs, including REACH and Match My Payment.
AMP: Up to $8,000 in Debt Forgiveness
If you are enrolled in CARE or FERA and have a large past-due balance, the Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) can forgive up to $8,000. PG&E lists these requirements:
you are enrolled in CARE or FERA,
you owe at least $500 on your gas and electric bill (or at least $250 for gas-only customers),
the debt is more than 90 days past due,
you have been a PG&E customer for at least six months, and
you have made at least one payment on time.
How it works: each time you pay your current monthly bill on time and in full, PG&E takes a set amount of your old debt off your bill. Twelve full, on-time monthly payments earn full forgiveness.
Net energy metering (solar) customers and master-metered customers cannot take part. To apply, log in to your PG&E account and check eligibility on your dashboard, or call 1-877-660-6789.
AMP or REACH? You cannot use both at the same time. If your past-due balance is small and you have a shutoff notice, REACH may be faster. If your debt is large and you can keep up with current bills, AMP may wipe out more.
LIHEAP Through Fresno EOC
Fresno EOC Energy Services runs LIHEAP for Fresno County. Fresno EOC says LIHEAP can make one payment per program year toward electricity, gas, propane, wood or oil for eligible households. Its Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps households in a crisis, such as those with a 48-hour disconnect notice or whose service has been shut off.
Paper applications are no longer accepted. All applications go through Fresno EOC's online portal, and they are processed first-come, first-served. If you need help with the portal, call (559) 263-1320 to schedule an appointment. Fresno EOC says office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The same number schedules appointments at rural and offsite locations.
To qualify for LIHEAP or ECIP, Fresno EOC says you must:
be a Fresno County resident,
have a low-income household,
have a valid Social Security card,
show current income, including pay stubs for the previous 6 weeks,
show ID, such as a driver's license or California ID, and
provide all pages of your current energy bill, 48-hour notice or shutoff notice, or a current receipt for wood, propane, heating oil or gas.
Getting LIHEAP also qualifies you for CARE, so apply for both.
Lower the Bill With Weatherization
Fresno EOC's weatherization program installs energy-saving measures such as weather-stripping doors and sealing windows and gaps around the home. These can make the home safer and more comfortable and reduce energy costs. Call (559) 263-1588 or email weatherization@fresnoeoc.org.
Fresno PG&E Help Checklist
[ ] Checked the CARE and FERA income tables against your household's gross annual income
[ ] Applied for CARE/FERA online, or requested a paper form at 1-866-743-2273
[ ] If you got a 15-day or 48-hour notice, applied for REACH through Dollar Energy Fund
[ ] If you owe $500 or more and are 90+ days behind, checked AMP at 1-877-660-6789
[ ] Applied for LIHEAP or ECIP through Fresno EOC's online portal, or called (559) 263-1320 for help
[ ] Gathered 6 weeks of pay stubs, ID, Social Security card and all pages of your bill
[ ] Put a reminder on your calendar to renew CARE every two years (four if on a fixed income)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need documents to apply for CARE? Not when you apply, according to PG&E. But PG&E may ask for proof of income after you enroll.
Can I get CARE and LIHEAP? Yes. LIHEAP is one of the programs that qualifies you for CARE.
Can I get both REACH and AMP? No. PG&E says customers enrolled in AMP are not eligible for REACH.
Is FERA a gas discount? No. FERA is an 18% discount on electric rates.
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