San Jose PG&E Bill Help 2026–27: CARE and FERA Discounts, SJ Cares, REACH, AMP Debt Forgiveness and HEAP Through Sacred Heart
Updated: 6 hours ago
Most San Jose homes get two names on their energy bill: PG&E, which delivers power and gas, and San José Clean Energy (SJCE), which supplies the electricity for many city residents. That setup confuses people, but it actually helps you. If you qualify for PG&E's CARE or FERA discount, SJCE automatically stacks its own SJ Cares discount on top.
This guide covers each discount and bill-relief program available in San Jose, who qualifies and how to apply, plus what to do if you get a disconnection notice.
Last reviewed: October 2026. How we research and correct guides like this one is explained in our Editorial Standards.
Where two official sources disagree, we note it. This is general information. Each program makes its own decisions.
Where San Jose customers should start
CARE: 35% or more off electricity and 20% or more off gas, per PG&E. Qualify by income or through programs like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, WIC, SSI or LIHEAP.
FERA: 18% off electricity for households that earn a little too much for CARE. One application covers both.
SJ Cares: an extra 10% off SJCE charges, automatic for CARE and FERA customers.
AMP: up to $8,000 in debt forgiveness for CARE and FERA customers who owe $500 or more and make 12 on-time payments.
REACH: a one-time credit toward a past-due bill after a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice.
HEAP (LIHEAP): a once-a-year credit of $328 to $521 through Sacred Heart Community Service, 1-877-278-6455. Funding is tight right now.
CARE/FERA questions: 1-866-743-5832 or CAREandFERA@pge.com.
CARE: The Biggest Monthly Discount
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 standard customers, PG&E says. CARE customers also get a reduced Base Services Charge of about $6 a month. (SJCE's page describes the electric discount as 30–35%.)
Two ways to qualify
1. Through a public assistance program. You qualify if you or someone in your household receives any of these, per PG&E:
LIHEAP
WIC
CalFresh/SNAP
CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF
Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Medi-Cal for Families (Healthy Families A & B)
National School Lunch Program
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Medicaid/Medi-Cal (any age)
2. By income. Add up the gross income of everyone in your home, from all sources (wages, Social Security, pensions, child support, self-employment, rental income and more), and compare it with PG&E's CARE income table. PG&E's REACH page says CARE uses guidelines at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. PG&E says the current table is valid through May 31, 2027, and changes each June. Use current income expected over the next 12 months. If someone in your home lost a job or had hours cut, you may now qualify.
Other rules
The PG&E bill must be in your name and you must live there.
No one except a spouse can claim you as a dependent.
You can't share a meter with another home.
Monthly electric use must stay under six times the Tier 1 allowance.
You may be asked to take part in the Energy Savings Assistance program.
How to apply
Online through PG&E (English, Spanish or Chinese). It takes a few minutes, and no documents are needed to apply.
By mail: PG&E CARE/FERA Program, P.O. Box 29647, Oakland, CA 94604-9647. Fax: 1-877-302-7563. Email: CAREandFERA@pge.com with "CARE application" in the subject line. Paper forms come in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, including large print.
The discount shows up on your next bill as "CARE Discount." PG&E may randomly ask for proof of income later. If you don't respond by the deadline in the letter, the discount is removed.
Renewal: every two years, or every four years on a fixed income. PG&E mails a renewal about three months ahead.
Renters with a sub-metered unit (where your landlord bills you for energy) can still get CARE, but must use the paper sub-metered tenant application. The landlord then passes the discount through to you.
FERA: 18% for Families Just Above CARE
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) gives an 18% discount on electricity (not gas) and a reduced Base Services Charge of about $12 a month. SJCE notes that FERA is for households of three or more people who meet the income guidelines. You don't need a separate application. If you don't qualify for CARE, PG&E automatically checks you for FERA. For FERA questions, call 1-877-660-6789.
SJ Cares and Solar Access (San José Clean Energy)
Because CARE and FERA are state programs, SJCE customers keep them with no need to reapply; enrollment and renewals still go through PG&E. On top of that:
SJ Cares: CARE and FERA customers are automatically enrolled in SJCE's SJ Cares, which gives an extra 10% off SJCE charges. SJCE says SJ Cares customers pay the lowest energy rates in San José.
Solar Access: SJCE says this program offers 20% off your electricity bill with no panels to install, and it can be stacked with CARE or FERA for up to 55% in savings. Check eligibility on SJCE's Solar Access page.
SJCE also runs a savings text line: text SAVINGS to 833-415-2329.
AMP: Up to $8,000 in Debt Forgiveness
If you're on CARE or FERA and have fallen far behind, PG&E's Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) can wipe out old debt. To qualify, PG&E says you must:
Be enrolled in CARE or FERA
Have been a PG&E customer for at least six months
Owe $500 or more on a gas and electric bill (or $250 for gas-only customers)
How it works: for 12 months, PG&E forgives a slice of your old debt each time you pay your current bill in full and on time. Make all 12 payments and you get the full forgiveness, up to $8,000. Any amount above $8,000 is held until the program ends.
Watch out: miss two payments in a row or three total, and you're removed. After finishing, you must wait 12 months to re-enroll. While on AMP, LIHEAP payments go only to current charges, and you can't apply for REACH.
SJCE charges: PG&E says your CCA balance is eligible only if your CCA participates. Ask SJCE if your SJCE charges are covered.
Apply: call 1-877-660-6789 to hear if you're eligible, or log in to your PG&E account. SJCE also lists PG&E customer service at 1-800-743-5000.
REACH: Help After a Disconnection Notice
REACH is a donation-funded program that puts a one-time energy credit toward the past-due part of your PG&E bill. PG&E says the credit is up to $800. (SJCE's page lists up to $300; we use PG&E's figure because PG&E runs the program.) To qualify, PG&E says you need:
Income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
A 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice
Funding is first come, first served. Dollar Energy Fund processes REACH applications online. For help with the form, call 1-877-660-6789. PG&E says it committed an extra $50 million in 2026 to extend REACH and its Match My Payment program.
HEAP (LIHEAP) Through Sacred Heart
In Santa Clara County, the federal Home Energy Assistance Program is run by Sacred Heart Community Service. Its pages say:
HEAP gives one payment a year, from $328 to $521, credited to your utility bill. (SJCE's page says up to $1,000; Sacred Heart is the administrator, so we use its numbers.)
It covers PG&E, Silicon Valley Power, City of Palo Alto, sub-metered and energy-included-in-rent households.
Households with elderly, disabled or young members are encouraged to apply.
Right now a Priority Plan is in effect because of limited funding. Income-eligible households may still be denied, and Sacred Heart says to expect a letter within 8 weeks. Make a payment arrangement with your utility while you wait.
How to apply: download the application from Sacred Heart's site or call 1-877-278-6455 (or email heap@sacredheartcs.org). Mail it; faxes aren't accepted. Include:
A copy of a U.S. government-issued photo ID
All pages of your current energy bill, showing name, address, account number and current usage (no shutoff notices or closing bills)
Gross income for everyone 18 and older, covering one month and dated within six weeks of applying
A Certification of Income and Expense form for any adult with no income
Sacred Heart says it can't return calls about application status because of demand.
Water bills, too: Sacred Heart's Water Rate Assistance Program with Valley Water can pay up to $1,000 once per program year toward a residential water bill. Call 408-916-5014 or email waterassistance@sacredheartcs.org.
Got a Past-Due Balance?
SJCE's page explains that after September 30, PG&E automatically puts residential customers with a balance more than 60 days past due into a 24-month payment plan. Your old balance is divided by 24 and added to each bill. (SJCE's example: a $250 balance becomes about $10.42 a month.) If you're on CARE or FERA and owe more than $500 that's over 90 days late, ask about AMP instead.
Lower Your Bill for Good
Energy Savings Assistance (PG&E): free upgrades for income-eligible homes, such as refrigerator replacement, furnace or water heater repair, insulation and weatherproofing.
Central Coast Energy Services: home energy and safety assessments; 408-675-1910.
Medical Baseline: extra energy at the lowest rate if someone in your home has qualifying medical needs. Apply through PG&E.
Related Guides
More help in San Jose
Every guide we have for San Jose is listed on our San Jose financial help hub. Related guides for the same area:
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