Energy Programs for Residents

Apply for a Monthly Discount through PG&E's California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program or Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA)

CARE and FERA are PG&E discount programs that help eligible customers pay their energy bills. Over 1.4 million customers are receiving a bill discount through these two programs. Simply complete the online CARE/FERA enrollment form and PG&E will let you know if you’re eligible. 

• California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE). A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity. Participants qualify through income guidelines or if enrolled in certain public assistance programs.
• Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA). A monthly discount of 18% on electricity only. Must be a household with three or more people. Participants qualify through income guidelines.

Find out if you’re eligible

Review the guidelines to see if you qualify. 

• CARE - Discount on gas and electric rates
• FERA - Discount on electric rates only for households of 3 or more people

You may also qualify for CARE based on participation in certain public assistance programs. See the list of qualifying programs.

FERA eligibility is based on household size and income only. Review full program guidelines.

It takes only a few minutes to fill out the application. No proof of income is necessary and your answers are confidential. For the quickest turnaround time, use PG&E's online application (available in multiple languages; Spanish, Chinese, & Vietnamese).

CARE/FERA 2022-2023 Income Guidelines

*Before taxes based on current income sources. Table data applies to residential, single-family customers. Income Guidelines are valid through 05/31/23.

MCE Pilot Program for Low-Income Families and Tenants

Through the LIFT pilot program, MCE aims to expand the reach of their carbon-reducing energy programs to low-income customers so they can benefit even more from lower bills and improved quality of life. Everyone has the right to affordable, clean, renewable energy service and programs, and MCE and the City of Richmond will continue to work to ensure that income level will not be a barrier to access. This program layers an extra $1,200 per unit on the Multifamily Energy Savings Program rebate for energy and water savings measures for income-qualified properties. $1,200 per unit is available to fund energy efficiency improvements and appliances in 1,400 multifamily units for items such as pipe insulation, more efficient lighting, Energy Star refrigerators, and air conditioners.

The LIFT program builds upon the success of MCE’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency program, which has already distributed $433,424 in rebates for 1,785 units in affordable properties. In 2017, MCE committed another $107,240 in rebates for affordable properties. Property owners that utilize both the LIFT program and MCE’s existing Multifamily Energy Savings program can have up to 80 percent of the total project costs covered through the combined rebates.

To participate in the program, residents are required to be at or below the 200 percent Federal Poverty Guidelines. This income qualification was determined by the California State Legislature and is the same as CARE eligibility requirements, allowing CARE customers, who receive a minimum 20 percent discount on gas and electric rates, to automatically qualify for LIFT.

The Weatherization Program (WP) 

 A Federal and State funded program whose purpose is to assist low and/or fixed income residents in making their homes more energy efficient and save money on their energy bills. The program is available to Contra Costa homeowners and renters regardless of whether you live in a home, apartment, or a mobile home. 
 
Contact Contra County Conservation and Development Department at (925)-674-7214 or visit their website at www.cccounty.us/weatherization.
 
 

PG&E Energy Savings Assistance Program

This program provides income qualified homeowners and renters living in a house, mobile home or apartment with no cost energy saving improvements. Residents will receive a free home assessment to determine if your home qualifies for the program and, if so, the improvements to be made.
 
For more information or to apply, call PG&E at (800) 989-9744 or visit their website at pge.com/energysavings.

Program Income Guidelines

The Following are the income limits effective July 1, 2022 to May 30, 2023:

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity- No Cost Green House Call

For seven weeks each summer, Rising Sun - Center for Opportunity employs youth age 15 to 22 and trains them to serve communities across the Bay Area with free 'green house calls'. At each green house call they check the home for efficiency, install free energy and water-saving equipment, and provide personalized recommendations for further savings. The program is free and no income qualification required. Only available for those living in single family homes and multi-family units.

When you sign up for a Green House Call, energy assistants will assess your home’s current energy and water usage, install energy and water efficient measures, and provide you with resources to other energy and water programs in your area. As mentioned earlier, the entire service comes to you at No-Cost! 

A Green House Call includes: 

• Home energy and water efficiency assessment 
• Energy efficient light bulbs 
• A smart power strip OR multiple smart energy plugs 
• Draft stopping outlet gaskets 
• Efficient flow faucet aerators and shower heads 
• Information on other energy-saving and green programs 

Green House Calls have no income qualifications and are available to renters and homeowners. Ready for your Green House Call? Sign up by visiting https://bit.ly/GHCInterest2023 or call (510) 665-1501 ext. 300 

Learn more at: https://risingsunopp.org/programs/ghc/  

 *Green House Calls are only available to those who have not already received this service within the last 5 years. 

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity is a local nonprofit that operates job training and employment programs for underserved youth and adults to address climate change and economic inequity. Green House Calls are supported by California utility customers like you and administered under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission, so take this opportunity to make your ratepayer dollars work for you with energy efficiency services that help you save on your utility bill! 

Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)- Home+ Upgrade Incentive 

For more information and eligibility requirements, please visit bayrenresidential.org

Bay Area SunShares

Richmond residents are encouraged to participate in SunShares, a limited time, group buying energy procurement program that provides discounts on residential solar and electric vehicles. The program's sign-up window is from September to November. 

The Bay Area SunShares program is led by the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3) aimed at leveraging group buying power to provide discounts and competitive financing options on solar installations and zero-emissions vehicles. Discounts and pricing options are listed on the Bay Area SunShares website. All Bay Area residents are eligible.

Registration re-opened on September 1, 2022. Visit the SunShares website to find an informational workshop near you, https://www.bayareasunshares.org/events . 

HERO and CaliforniaFIRST - Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs 

Richmond homeowners are eligible to participate in two Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs: HERO and CaliforniaFIRST. PACE financing enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiency improvements and pay for them through their property tax bill. Property owners repay the assessment over 5 to 20 years and the interest is tax-deductible. Homeowners can use PACE financing to renovate projects that can increase their property values, lower their monthly utility bills, and contribute to making our community more energy independent.

For more information on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs, please visit https://renewfinancial.com/californiafirst-pace-financing-california.