Get Help Lowering or Catching Up on Bills
Reduce your monthly energy bill, get caught up on late payments, and lower your energy usage.
Reduce your monthly energy bill, get caught up on late payments, and lower your energy usage.
Monthly Bill Discounts
See if you’re eligible for lower rates on your monthly energy bill.
Qualified households receive 35% off on electricity and 20% off on gas through the CARE Program. Eligibility is based on the size of your household and total gross household income or public assistance program participation. Household income is calculated as of the date you apply for CARE. It is not based on your past income.
The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program provides an 18% discount on electricity. The program is designed for income-qualified households with three or more people. Income limits are 25% higher for FERA than CARE. Household income is calculated as of the date you apply for FERA. It is not based on your past income.
As part of MCE’s bill relief efforts, we’re offering $20 off monthly electricity bills to residential customers already enrolled in the CARE or FERA discounts, and $25 off monthly electricity bills to small businesses on A1 and B1 rates through April 2025.
Medical Baseline Allowance provides assistance to residential customers who depend on power for certain medical and independent living needs. It includes a lower rate on your energy bill and extra notifications in advance of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. There are no income requirements and customers may also be enrolled in CARE or FERA.
Bill Payment Assistance Programs
If you are having trouble paying your energy bill and have received late payment or shutoff notices, the following programs can help. We also recommend that you see if you qualify for any of the bill discount programs mentioned above to lower the amount you owe each month.
Arrearage Management Plan (AMP)
AMP is a payment plan to help qualifying households reduce unpaid energy bill balances (up to $8,000). To qualify you must:
- Be enrolled in CARE or FERA
- Owe at least $500
- Be over 90 days past due and a PG&E customer for at least 6 months (MCE customers qualify for this program)
- Have made at least 1 on-time payment
Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH)
The REACH program helps you pay for energy during a crisis. REACH provides an energy credit up to $1.000 based on the past due bill amount. REACH is available to income-qualified customers who received a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice, owe at least $500, or received a disconnection notice, and haven’t received REACH assistance within the past 12 months. Find the non-profit agency that runs REACH in your area.
LIHEAP is a federally funded assistance program that provides up to $3,000 per year to help customers get caught up on late energy bill payments. LIHEAP also provides free energy efficiency upgrades to lower your energy bill. Eligibility is based on household size and income. Learn about the LIHEAP application process in your county.
Energy Savings Programs
One of the best ways to lower your energy bill is to reduce how much energy you use. The following energy savings programs help to make your home more comfortable while saving money on your energy bill.
Heating, cooling, and water heating account for more than half of your home’s energy costs. MCE’s Home Energy Saving Program helps qualifying single-family homeowners and renters save money and energy by providing free energy-saving gifts, a virtual home energy assessment, and free home energy upgrades – all of which can help lower utility bills and make your home more comfortable.
Multifamily property owners can receive up to $6,000 per unit for electrification measures, comprehensive assessments, and technical assistance for energy- and water-saving measures.
In addition to providing help with energy bill payment (noted above), LIHEAP also offers:
- Free energy efficiency upgrades
- Education on energy efficiency practices and how to use and maintain installed weatherization measures
- Emergency assistance for energy-related crisis (such as utility shut-off notices )