CALIFORNIA CODES PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE SECTION 739.1-739.2
739.1. (a) The commission shall establish a program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers, the cost of which shall not be borne solely by any single class of customer. The program shall be referred to as the California Alternate Rates for Energy or CARE program.
(b) The commission's program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers shall, as soon as practicable, include nonprofit group living facilities specified by the commission, if the commission finds that the residents in these facilities substantially meet the commission's low-income eligibility requirements and there is a feasible process for certifying that the assistance shall be used for the direct benefit, such as improved quality of care or improved food service, of the low-income residents in the facilities. The commission shall authorize utilities to offer discounts to eligible facilities licensed or permitted by appropriate state or local agencies, and to facilities, including women's shelters, hospices, and homeless shelters, that may not have a license or permit but provide other proof satisfactory to the utility that they are eligible to participate in the program.
739.2. (a) The commission's program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers shall also include the following facilities, provided the commission finds that the occupants of the facilities substantially meet the commission's low-income eligibility requirements and there is a feasible process for certifying that the assistance shall be used for the direct benefit of the occupants of the facilities:
(1) Migrant farm worker housing centers provided pursuant to Section 50710 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Employee housing, as defined in Section 17008 of the Health and Safety Code, that is licensed and inspected by state or local agencies pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) Housing for agricultural employees, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code, that has received an exemption from local property taxes pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) The assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only apply to gas and electricity, or both, used for the housing occupied by the workers and employees specified in subdivision (a).
