Sacramento SMUD Bill Help 2026–27: EAPR Discount, Medical Equipment Rate, and HEAP Credits
If you're a SMUD customer having trouble with your electric bill, there are three main kinds of help. Each one fills a different gap:
EAPR, SMUD's income-based discount, which lowers every monthly bill.
MED Rate, a flat discount for households running qualifying medical equipment.
HEAP, a once-a-year credit paid through Community Resource Project (CRP), the local nonprofit that runs this federal energy aid.
Most income-eligible households should look at all three. Below, each program gets a short "is this for me" check, then the steps.
Last checked October 2026. Facts come from SMUD's Income-Eligible Assistance and Medical Equipment Discount pages and Community Resource Project's Utility Assistance page. Income limits and discount amounts change. Confirm before applying. This is general information, not financial advice.
Program 1: Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR)
Is this for me?
You're a SMUD residential customer and your household's gross monthly income is at or below SMUD's limit.
SMUD EAPR income limits (effective February 1, 2026):
1–2 people: $3,607/month
3 people: $4,553/month
4 people: $5,500/month
5 people: $6,447/month
6 people: $7,393/month
Each additional person: add $947
How much does it save?
SMUD bases the maximum monthly discount on where your income falls compared with the federal poverty level (FPL):
0–50% of FPL: up to $105 a month. SMUD says this is a combined EAPR and EAPR Rate Stabilization Fund discount, in place since January 2024.
Above 50% to 100%: up to $42
Above 100% to 150%: up to $20
Above 150% to 200%: up to $10
What that means in a year: At the top tier, up to $105 a month adds up to as much as $1,260 a year. At the lowest tier, up to $10 a month is up to $120 a year. These are maximums. Your actual discount depends on your bill.
How to apply
Use SMUD's "Do I qualify?" tool at smud.org/lowincome. Enter a few household details.
If you qualify, apply online through My Account or download a mail-in application.
Applications come in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Hmong, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
Timing: SMUD currently says that because of high volume, EAPR applications may take 2 to 4 weeks to process. Keep paying what you can in the meantime.
Questions: SMUD's line is 1-888-742-7683.
Program 2: Medical Equipment Discount (MED Rate)
Is this for me?
Someone in your home uses one of these, per SMUD:
an in-home dialysis cycler;
an electric wheelchair;
an oxygen concentrator;
a ventilator (CPAP and BiPAP machines don't count);
extraordinary heating or air-conditioning needs because of a medical condition.
There's no income test listed. MED Rate is based on medical need.
How much does it save?
SMUD says MED Rate gives $15 per month off your bill. That's $180 a year. It can be combined with EAPR. If $15 doesn't come close to covering your medical electricity use, SMUD says to email or call 1-888-742-7683.
How to apply
Download the MED Rate application from SMUD. It's available in English and Spanish.
Complete and sign sections 1–3.
Have a qualified health professional complete and sign section 4. SMUD says it will return applications without that signature.
Mail it to: Sacramento Municipal Utility District MED Rate, Mail Stop A104 P.O. Box 15830 Sacramento, CA 95852-0830
A related protection: Vulnerable Population Program
SMUD says MED Rate customers are automatically enrolled in its Vulnerable Population Program. It gives you more communication before, and possibly during, a planned outage. Even if you don't qualify for MED Rate, you can opt in to the Vulnerable Population Program.
SMUD also advises households with medical equipment to plan for outages: keep battery-powered devices charged, keep spare batteries and a flashlight, and keep emergency numbers handy.
Program 3: HEAP Credit Through Community Resource Project
Is this for me?
You live in Sacramento, Sutter, or Yuba County. You're a customer of SMUD or PG&E, or you heat with wood, propane, or oil from a vendor. Your income is at or below CRP's guideline.
CRP's 2026 income guidelines (monthly):
1 person: $3,331.66
2 people: $4,356.83
3 people: $5,382.00
4 people: $6,407.16
5 people: $7,432.25
6 people: $8,457.41
CRP lists figures for households up to 10. Note that these limits are different from SMUD's EAPR limits. You can qualify for one and not the other, so check both.
Who gets priority?
CRP says priority goes to applicants who:
are income-qualified;
have a high energy burden, meaning a large share of income goes to energy bills;
have a household member who is 60 or older, disabled, or under 5.
How much, and how fast?
CRP says HEAP is one payment, typically $300–$600, every 12 months. The amount depends on household size, income, energy burden, funding, and local energy costs.
Processing takes 8–12 weeks. CRP says you're still responsible for paying your bill while the credit is processed. HEAP isn't a fast fix for a shutoff next week. Apply early in the season, and keep making payments.
What to bring (per CRP)
a valid Social Security card or number;
pay stubs for the previous 6 weeks;
ID, such as a driver's license or California ID;
copies of all current utility bills.
Apply online through CRP's website (Apply Online).
Putting It Together: A Sample Plan
Here's how the programs can stack for a SMUD household of three earning $3,000 a month, with a parent on an oxygen concentrator:
EAPR: $3,000 is under SMUD's $4,553 limit for three, so the household can apply.
MED Rate: The oxygen concentrator qualifies. That's $15 a month off, which can be combined with EAPR.
HEAP: $3,000 is under CRP's $5,382 limit for three. A household member with a disability may get priority. Apply now, because it takes 8–12 weeks.
The order matters: EAPR and MED Rate lower every bill going forward. HEAP is a one-time boost. Apply for all three in the same week.
If You're Already Behind
Call SMUD at 1-888-742-7683 before your due date or any disconnection date. Ask what payment arrangement options are available on your account.
Tell SMUD if you've applied for EAPR, MED Rate, or HEAP, and ask them to note it.
Call 2-1-1 for other Sacramento emergency help with bills.
Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming a CPAP qualifies for MED Rate. SMUD specifically excludes CPAP and BiPAP.
Sending the MED Rate form without the health professional's section. SMUD returns it.
Stopping payments while HEAP is pending. CRP says you're still responsible for the bill.
Checking only one income chart. SMUD's EAPR and CRP's HEAP limits are different.
Leaving out a utility bill. CRP asks for copies of all current utility bills.
FAQ
What's the SMUD low-income discount called? The Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR). It's a monthly discount of up to $105, depending on income.
What's the EAPR income limit for a family of four? $5,500 a month (effective February 1, 2026).
How long does EAPR approval take? SMUD currently says 2 to 4 weeks because of high volume.
Can I get both EAPR and the medical discount? Yes. SMUD says MED Rate can be combined with EAPR.
How much is HEAP in Sacramento? CRP says typically $300–$600, once every 12 months. Processing takes 8–12 weeks.
Does SMUD's medical discount cover a CPAP? No. SMUD says ventilators qualify, but not CPAP or BiPAP machines.
Related Guides
Sources
SMUD, Income-Eligible Assistance (EAPR): https://www.smud.org/Rate-Information/Low-income-and-nonprofits
SMUD, Medical Equipment Discount: https://www.smud.org/Rate-Information/Medical-Equipment-Discount
Community Resource Project, Utility Assistance: https://www.communityresourceproject.org/Services/Utility-Assistance
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