New Income Guidelines May Help More Customers Stretch Energy Dollars
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More Southern California Edison customers may qualify for financial assistance to help pay their utility bills through an assortment of income-qualified programs that offer bill discounts and free energy-efficiency products and services.
Effective June 1, income guidelines for 2018-19 income-qualified programs — California Alternate Rates for Energy, Family Electric Rate Assistance and Energy Savings Assistance — have been updated and may increase the number of SCE customers eligible for financial support.
We’re here to support our customers and help those eligible for CARE and FERA income-qualified programs lower their monthly bill and electricity usage. The recent income guideline changes will help SCE serve even more eligible customers who qualify for these and other programs.”
Jill Anderson
SCE vice president
That’s good news for low-income customers facing economic hardships or who need help paying their utility bill.
“We’re here to support our customers and help those eligible for CARE and FERA income-qualified programs lower their monthly bill and electricity usage,” said Jill Anderson, SCE vice president, Customer Programs & Services. “The recent income guideline changes will help SCE serve even more eligible customers who qualify for these and other programs.”
The CARE program provides SCE’s income-qualified customers a discount of about 30 percent on monthly electric bills. The FERA program gives a 12 percent discount on monthly electric bills to qualified households of three or more.
Both CARE and FERA help eligible customers stretch their dollars to more effectively manage their utility costs with discount rates, particularly those on limited incomes or who participate in at least one of 10 government public assistance programs.
Under the Energy Savings Assistance program, customers may qualify for a free, new energy-efficient replacement refrigerator, lightbulbs or other energy-saving appliances or energy conservation services that can help them save money on their SCE electric bill.
Among the energy-saving products and services the program provides are:
- An energy-efficient replacement refrigerator
- Wall air conditioner
- Evaporative cooler
- Pool pump replacement
- Free weatherization services
- Energy-efficient lighting, such as fluorescent lightbulbs
- Other energy-saving products and services.
To learn more about SCE’s income-qualified programs, visit sce.com/billhelp or call 1-800-736-4777.
Effective June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, CARE and ESA programs’ income limits are as follows:
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