CALIFORNIA RATEPAYER FUNDED PROGRAMS | The LIHEAP Clearinghouse

CURRENT PROGRAMS
Rate Assistance	CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) 30%-35% off gas and electric utility bills for households up to 200% FPG for customers of investor owned utilities (IOUs). FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance Program) Additional electric rate discount for households up to 250% FPG who are customers of 3 largest electric IOUs Sacramento Municipal Utility District EAPR (Energy Assistance Program Rate): Discount of 30% on monthly bills for households up to 200% FPG. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power LIDP (Low-Income Discount Program): Discount of 15%-20% on water and electric bills for households up to 200% FPG.
Energy Efficiency	Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP) Services to customers who meet CARE income guidelines include: attic insulation, energy efficient refrigerators, energy efficient furnaces, weather stripping, caulking, low-flow showerheads, water heater blankets, and door and building envelope repairs which reduce air infiltration.
Participating Utilities	Major Four IOUs: Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, San Diego Gas and Electric CARE: Major IOUs FERA: Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric ESAP: Major IOUs
Annual Funding (2014)	Rate Assistance CARE: $1.29 billion FERA: $10.9 million EAPR: $41.3 million LIDR: $61 million (2013) Smaller Utilities: $40 million (estimate) Energy Efficiency ESAP: $390 million
Households Served (2014)	Rate Assistance CARE: 4.5 million FERA: 56,523 EAPR: 108,597 LIDR: 316,000 (2013) Energy Efficiency ESAP: 315,582
Funding Mechanism	Public purpose surcharge on all regulated utilities, all customer classes contribute except CARE customers are exempt SMUD recovers the cost of EAPR through its rate structure LADWP recovers the cost of LIDR through its Energy Subsidy Adjustment factor
Administration	Utilities with regulatory oversight
LEGISLATION
Authorizing	California Public Utilities Code, §739(g) (1989) (applies to investor owned utilities) Section 385 of the Public Utilities Act (applies to publicly owned utilities (municipals, irrigation districts)
Other Important	AB 1890 (9/96) (continues low income programs that existed prior to restructuring
REPORTS / EVALUATIONS
Needs Assessment for the Energy Savings Assistance and the California Alternate Rates for Energy Programs, Evergreen Economics, Dec 2016 Phase 1 and Phase 2 Needs Assessments State Report: California, from Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Energy Programs: Performance and Possibilities, APPRISE and Fisher, Sheehan, and Colton, July 2007 CPUC decisions and utility reports can be found on the LIOB website.