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California CARE program

California CARE Program
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The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program can provide qualifying residential customers with a discount of 25% or more on Pacific Power monthly electric bills. Simply complete the CARE enrollment form and we’ll let you know if you’re eligible. Once approved for the program, you will receive your discount for two years. After two years, you'll have to renew your application to make sure you still qualify. For households on a fixed-income, renewal is every four years. 

Coming June 1: changes to CARE and California Rates

To make energy more equitable and support California’s environmental goals, the way residential customers are charged for energy is changing.

Read more about these updates at the following link:

Learn more

CARE – see if you qualify and apply

CARE qualification guidelines

There are two ways to qualify for CARE.

  1. You may qualify for CARE if you or a member of your household participates in any of the qualifying public assistance programs found on the Public Assistance Programs tab.
  2. You may also qualify if your household meets the program income guidelines below. Even if you are receiving unemployment benefits, your household income as of today may qualify you to receive the discount. See a full list of income sources on the Income Sources tab.

CARE Plus

Beginning June 1, 2026, customers whose income is below 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines will be eligible for CARE Plus, which provides an additional discount on the monthly Base Services Charge.

Customers who enroll between April 1 and May 31 and qualify for CARE Plus will be automatically transitioned to the CARE Plus rate effective June 1, with no further action required.

Income guidelines for CARE

CARE program Yearly Gross Household Income
Effective June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026

Household Size

CARE Plus*

CARE**

1-2

$21,150

$42,300

3

$26,650

$53,300

4

$32,150

$64,300

5

$37,650

$75,300

6

$43,150

$86,300

7

$48,650

$97,300

8

$54,150

$108,300

Each additional person

$5,500

$11,000

*Income eligibility upper limit = 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
**Income eligibility upper limit = 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

Qualifying public assistance programs:

Medicaid/Medi-Cal

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

Healthy Families A&B

National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program (NSL)

Food Stamps/SNAP

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Tribal TANF

When calculating income, add up your household's combined gross annual household income from ALL sources, including:

  • Pensions
  • Social Security
  • SSP or SSDI
  • Interest or dividends from savings, stocks, bonds and/or retirement accounts
  • Wages and/or profits from self-employment
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Disability or workers' compensation payments
  • Rental or royalty income
  • Scholarships, grants or other aid used for living expenses
  • Insurance or legal settlements
  • Spousal or child support
  • Cash and/or other income

If you qualify under CARE guidelines, please apply:

Apply now

You can also complete and mail the following application:

        CARE Print Application Form

Additional CARE applications:

Tenants of sub-metered residential facilities

Landlords on a master meter account can fill out an application for CARE or call toll free at 1-888-221-7070 and landlords who are billed under Schedule DS-8 can calculate their tenants' bill using our simple calculator.

Tenants of Sub-Metered Facilities – CARE Application Form

Qualified nonprofit group living facilities

Group living facilities, homeless shelters, hospices and women's shelters may qualify for CARE if the facility is federally tax exempt and all of the facility occupants meet the income requirements. See application for specific eligibility criteria.

Qualified Nonprofit Group Living Facilities – CARE Application Form

Qualified agricultural employee housing facilities

Migrant farm worker housing centers and other agricultural employee housing facilities may qualify for CARE if all of the residents meet income guidelines. See application for specific eligibility criteria.

Qualified Agricultural Employee Housing – CARE Application Form