Need Help Paying Your Electric Bill? 13 Ways to Get Help in California
Behind on your electric bill or worried about a shutoff? Here is how to get help fast, then lower every bill after.
A bill that is higher than you planned, a past due notice, or a shutoff date coming up. Californians have more help with electric bills than most people know about, from one time payments to discounts that last for years. Start at the top if a shutoff is close, then work down to lower every bill after this one.
Quick answer
If you have a shutoff notice, call your utility before the date on the notice and ask for a payment arrangement, then ask about its one time bill help and LIHEAP emergency help. To lower every bill after that, sign up for CARE or FERA, which can take up to 35% off your electric bill.
- Call before the shutoff date. Your utility has more options before service is cut.
- CARE and FERA last as long as you qualify, so sign up even after this bill is paid.
- On CARE or FERA and behind? AMP can forgive up to $8,000 of past due bills.
- Never pay a caller who demands money to stop a shutoff. Call the number on your bill instead.
Where to start
If a shutoff notice just arrived
Lower every bill from now on
Small changes that cut the bill
If a shutoff notice just arrived
1Call your utility and ask for a payment arrangement
PG&E, Southern California Edison, SDG&E and SoCalGas all offer payment arrangements and short extensions. Call before the date on your notice, explain what happened, and ask to spread the past due amount over your next few bills. Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with and what you agreed.
2Ask for your utility’s one time bill help
Each big utility has a fund for customers going through a tough time, usually once a year and while the money lasts. In 2026, PG&E’s REACH program can credit up to $800 toward a past due bill. Southern California Edison’s Energy Assistance Fund pays up to $200, or $300 for all electric homes. SDG&E’s Neighbor to Neighbor program can cover up to $300 of a past due balance. Ask your utility how to apply.
3Apply for emergency help through LIHEAP
LIHEAP is a federally funded program run in California by local agencies. Its Energy Crisis Intervention Program is made for households with a shutoff notice or service that has already been turned off, and its Home Energy Assistance Program makes a one time payment toward your bill. Find your local agency at csd.ca.gov/energybills.
4Call 211 for local bill help
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in California. The free, confidential line can point you to local charities and programs that help with utility bills, and tell you which ones have money right now.
5Cover a small gap with a short term loan
If a shutoff is close and you get paid soon, a short term loan can keep the lights on until then. At Cash in Flash you can borrow $100 to $255 online, see every fee before you sign, and repay it in one payment on your next payday.
Borrow $100 to $255 online
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- One flat fee, shown before you sign
Lower every bill from now on
6Sign up for CARE or FERA
CARE takes 30% to 35% off your electric bill and 20% off natural gas. FERA takes 18% off electric for households that earn a little more. Under the 2026 to 2027 guidelines, a household of 1 or 2 can earn up to $43,280 a year for CARE, and a household of 4 up to $66,000. Most people apply online with their utility in a few minutes.
7Get past due bills forgiven with AMP
If you are on CARE or FERA and owe at least $500 ($250 if you only have gas service), with some of it more than 90 days late, the Arrearage Management Plan forgives one twelfth of what you owe for every bill you pay on time, up to $8,000. Ask your utility to enroll you.
8Get Medical Baseline if someone at home has a medical need
If someone in your home relies on life support equipment or has certain medical conditions, Medical Baseline gives you extra energy at your utility’s lowest price. There is no income limit. A doctor fills out part of the application.
9Get free energy saving upgrades
The Energy Savings Assistance program can give qualifying homes free upgrades like insulation, weatherstripping, an efficient refrigerator or furnace repairs. Those lower your bill every month after.
10Switch to level pay
Level pay, which some utilities call budget billing, averages your bills over the year so a hot summer or a cold winter does not bring one huge bill. Ask your utility to set it up.
Small changes that cut the bill
11Use power outside peak hours
Most customers of the big California utilities are on time of use plans, where power costs the most from 4 to 9 p.m. Run the dishwasher, washer and dryer earlier in the day or later at night.
12Set the thermostat a few degrees differently
Heating and cooling are the biggest part of most bills. Try 78 degrees in summer and 68 in winter when you are home. Fans, closed blinds on hot afternoons and a clean filter help too.
13Watch for the California Climate Credit
Most utility customers get the California Climate Credit on their bill twice a year, usually in spring and fall. You do not need to apply, and knowing when it lands can help you plan which month to catch up.
What to avoid when you are behind on your electric bill
- Callers who demand payment by gift card or a payment app to stop a shutoff. Hang up and call the number on your bill.
- Ignoring a past due notice. You have fewer options once service is cut.
- Running a space heater all day, which can make a winter bill much bigger.
- Paying anyone to sign you up for CARE, FERA or LIHEAP. Applying is free.
- Borrowing more than you can repay from your next paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get help paying my electric bill in California?▾
Call your utility to set up a payment arrangement, ask about its one time bill help, and apply for LIHEAP through your local agency. Then sign up for CARE or FERA to lower your future bills.
What should I do if I get a shutoff notice?▾
Call your utility right away, before the date on the notice, and ask for a payment arrangement. If you need help paying, LIHEAP’s Energy Crisis Intervention Program is made for shutoff notices, and 211 can point you to local help.
How much does CARE save?▾
CARE takes 30% to 35% off your electric bill and 20% off natural gas. FERA takes 18% off electric for households that earn a little more than the CARE limit.
Can past due electric bills be forgiven?▾
Yes, through the Arrearage Management Plan if you are on CARE or FERA and owe at least $500. Each on time payment forgives one twelfth of your past due balance, up to $8,000.
Can I get a loan to pay my electric bill?▾
Yes. If a shutoff is close and you get paid soon, a short term loan can cover the gap. Try the free help first if you have time, since much of it never has to be paid back.
Need to keep the lights on today?
Borrow $100 to $255 online in about 5 minutes. If you are approved, money can arrive as soon as today, and every fee is shown before you sign.