SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that thousands of additional gas and electric customers may now be eligible to receive a discount on their monthly energy bill thanks to an adjustment in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program’s income qualifications.

With hot summer temperatures right around the corner, now is an ideal time for PG&E’s eligible customers to sign up for a discount on their energy bill.

Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect current federal poverty guidelines.

The latest adjustment means more PG&E customers may now qualify for the program based on their pre-tax annual income, as follows:

Size of Household                         Previous Income                                       Guidelines New Income Guidelines

                                                     (June 1, 2009 -May 31, 2010)                  (June 1, 2010-May 31, 2011)

 

1 – 2                                             $30,500                                                   $31,300

3                                                   $35,800                                                   $36,800

4                                                   $43,200                                                   $44,400

5                                                   $50,600                                                   $52,000

6                                                   $58,000                                                   $59,600

Each additional person add        $7,400                                                     $7,600

 

 

On average, CARE saves households $46 per month on their gas and electric bill. Since the program's inception in 1989, PG&E customers enrolled in CARE have saved more than $3.7 billion on their energy bills.

Currently more than 1.4 million customers throughout PG&E's service area are enrolled in CARE. Thousands of additional households in Northern and Central California are eligible for CARE, but not yet enrolled.

Eligible PG&E customers can apply for CARE by going online to www.pge.com/care and be enrolled in the program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle.

In addition to the CARE program, PG&E offers a host of other programs to assist customers during challenging economic times. PG&E's Breathe Easy Solutions™ help customers manage their energy costs when life brings financial challenges or unexpected changes. Additional details, as well as eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions, can be found at http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/financialassistance/.