Utility and electric bill assistance California

Utility and energy bill assistance programs in California,

Find how to get financial help with paying utility bills in California. Most of the gas, electric, and utility companies offer assistance programs. There are also free discounts or payment plans for low-income families, seniors or people with no money. They may give grant money, forgiveness, reconnection help and emergency assistance with electric bills.

Read below for details on electric and utility bill help in California.

Government financial assistance to help pay utility bills

Utility and energy bill assistance programs in California,

Some of the energy bill assistance programs, such as CARE, free weatherization or LIHEAP, are mandated by the state or federal government. Some local cities, counties and towns may also be able to provide emergency utility bill help to the elderly, disabled, or veterans in the area.

This also includes free Air conditioners in the summer or HVAC repairs. Other programs are funded by donations such as services that replace windows for free

. Regardless of the source, customers in California can contact their utility or gas company to request assistance or an application. Government financial assistance to help pay utility bills: California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) is available statewide.

This assistance program is offered by all utility companies across California. What it does is it provides customers across the state with a discount on natural gas and electric bills. It is only available for lower income families, senior citizens with a fixed income and certain thresholds apply. So while the CARE program may not be referenced below for all the utilities listed, they do offer it so you can just refer to the program when looking for help.

Low income government assistance and free energy conservation programs

are offered statewide. California families that meet low income guidelines can receive free grants for paying their utility bills from the federal government Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as well as free energy conservation measures. Additional details on California LIHEAP grants for low income energy bill help California Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program is about conservation.

This is a program that is offered by almost all utility, gas, and power companies across California. Qualified low to moderate income customers, can gain access to such services including energy efficient furnaces, attic insulation, low-flow showerheads, energy efficient refrigerators, and other repair or updates.

There may also be weatherstripping, caulking, water heater blankets, and other conservation measure. Call your local utility company to apply. California disconnection prevention laws are in effect. Each year many families or single people in California face a disconnection of their utility service.

Reasons for this can be many, including a job loss, medical emergency, or short term financial hardship. Click here to learn more on California state utility disconnection laws , and how they can protect individuals to ensure a possible disconnection is legal. Financial assistance for water bills is coordinated by the government too .

The state of California requires that water companies offer some form of assistance to their customers. Services can range from payment plans to discounts and reduced rates. If you are behind on your water bills or are facing a shut off, find a listing of resources for water bill assistance in California

Electric and utility assistance from companies in CA

Electric and utility assistance from companies in CA: Alameda Power & Telecom

offers one time emergency utility bill assistance from the Energy Assistance through Supportive Efforts (EASE). There are also free conservation measures, including HVAC or Air conditioner tune ups and CFL bulbs. Or inquire into payment plans, grant money to pay light or power bills from local non-profits and more.

Dial 510-814-4219 or (510) 748-3900 Alpine Natural Gas offers the elderly, disabled and working poor utility relief. There is the LIFE program, low-income relief, emergency help to stop a disconnection and other financial resources.

Call 209-772-3006 Anaheim Public Utilities

offers senior citizens a free discount on their bills from the Low-Income Senior Energy Credit. There are also free air conditioners for the elderly, window fans and weatherization programs to help any low-income family.

Many of these are offered in partnership with the Orange County California Community Development Council.

Another emergency program can provide one-time emergency utility and gas bill help. This will focus on people in a short term financial hardship or facing a disconnection. Several other low income assistance and grant programs are administered by Anaheim Utilities in California.

They focus on seniors, families with children, and others. Free conservation measures are offered too. Call 714-765-4500 or (714) 765-3300 or continue with financial assistance from Anaheim Utilities Azusa Light and Water provides help with both electric and water utilities.

The Residential Low Income Assistance may be able to provide a one-time energy bill payment. They also run and offer the lifeline rate, which applies to households who have a full-time member who requires essential life-support devise such as CPAP or that need power to run other health care equipment.

Call 626-812-5225 or 626-812-5200. Bear Valley Electric /: Golden State Company

Additional programs in CA to help with utility bills

partners with non-profits as well as the Salvation Army to help people pay their utility bills. The main assistance program they run is CARE, and it may be able to offer customers living in poverty a discount on their water or electric costs.

The company also helps people apply for LIHEAP grant money to help pay due bills, as well as crisis funds. There is also free energy conservation, weatherization services and more. The goal is to help people both pay their bills and save money.

Telephone - 800-999-4033 or 1-800-808-2837 Burbank Water and Power has applications to a assistance program for low-income families known as Project Share. This program was created to help Burbank California area families who may be experiencing temporary financial difficulties or a short term hardship pay their utility costs, including a deposit to turn on service.

They also help Burbank CA families, with a focus on seniors, save money from the Lifeline Program. There are savings on utilities, water, sewer costs and other utility related charges. Or inquire into payment plans and other forms of relief. Call 818-238-3722 or 818-238-3700. City of Banning offers struggling families A program known as B.E.A.R (Banning Electric Alternative Rate.

This may be able to assist qualified low-income city residents with paying their electric bill. If a customer applies for help, and upon approval, qualified applicants to the BEAR program will receive an annual discount.

There are also payment extensions and other forms of utility relief. Call (951) 922-3185 or 951-849-5224 City of Colton Electric Utility has multiple programs. Three options include the Medical Baseline program, which provides for financial help for people with a medical condition.

There is also a Public Benefit Charge Exemption, which is a rate credit on a customer’s utility bill. Or free AC units are given out to seniors and the disabled as part of the Evaporative Cooler Program. All this is in addition for payment plans, help with a shut off notice and more.

Call 909-370-5040 or (909) 370-5104 City of Healdsburg helps the working poor and people in a fixed income with their utilities. Emergency or so called Crisis Assistance is available and can provide a one-time annual grant. They also administer the City Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE), which will offer up to a discount on gas, electric, and water bills for income-qualified customers.

All this is in addition to free grant money for light or electric bills from LIHEAP and other aid. Call 1-866-675-6626 or (707) 431-3307 Palo Alto Utilities offers free discounts to low-income customers with a medical condition as well as credits for disabled families on SSI or the working poor on SNAP.

There is also emergency help to pay light or gas bills from Project PLEDGE program. The goal is to help families on government benefits keep their power on, even more so during the summer heat.

Call 650-329-2333 or (650) 329-2161 City of Shasta Lake Municipal Utilities

offers financial help in partnership with the Salvation Army. There are also forgiveness plans, budget billing and The Lifeline Program may be able to offer reduced rates to customers. Interested customers can dial the Salvation Army at 530-222-2207 or the utility company at 530-275-7400 Glendale Water & Power

has free energy efficient appliances from programs such as Cool Care (refrigerators, small AC units, etc) as well as discounts to the elderly from Senior Care. Emergency help with power bills for sick, disabled or families with young kids that have medical equipment, and that is the GWP Guardian program.

Direct assistance to pay Glendale Water and Power’s bills is from Helping Hand. This gives money to seniors, single moms or people with little money to pay a past due utility bill or to turn power back on. Other support is offered too on a one-off basis. Call 818-548-3300 to apply or request an application.

Imperial Irrigation District (IID)

has an Emergency Energy Assistance Program. Grants or partial foregiveness is given to struggling households facing disconnection due to nonpayment of their utility, gas, or electric bills. There is also the Residential Energy Assistance Program (REAP), budget billing and conservation / weatherization measures for low-income families.

Call