How SoCalGas's Bill Assistance Programs Help With Your Gas Bill - Guide to Getting Assistance
SoCalGas serves more than 21 million people across Southern California and is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the country. If you're struggling to pay your bill or even facing a shut-off, there are several programs available — some reduce what you pay every month going forward, some help with a past-due balance, and one can make your home use less gas permanently. This is a plain-English guide to how the programs work and where to start. Understanding how they fit together makes it easier to figure out where to start.
CARE — California Alternate Rates for Energy
CARE is the most widely used bill assistance program SoCalGas offers, and it makes a real difference month to month: it cuts 20% off your natural gas bill every month you're enrolled, automatically. There's no application cycle — you enroll once and the discount stays as long as you remain eligible and recertify when asked.
You qualify for CARE either based on household income or because someone in your home participates in certain public assistance programs. The income threshold is set at 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and is updated each year. Automatic program-based qualification includes Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, LIHEAP, and several others — if you're already enrolled in any of those, you likely qualify for CARE without an income review.
Apply online at https://www.socalgas.com/billing-payment/assistance-programs/california-alternate-rates-for-energy, or by calling 1-800-427-2200, or by downloading a paper application and mailing it to SoCalGas CARE Program, P.O. Box 3249, Los Angeles, CA 90051. If you qualify automatically through another program, the enrollment process is shorter. You must recertify eligibility every two years.
FERA — Family Electric Rate Assistance
FERA provides a discount for households that don't quite meet the CARE income threshold. It's primarily an electric program administered through California's investor-owned electric utilities — if you're a SoCalGas customer looking for bill relief, CARE is the program to focus on. Ask SoCalGas or your electric utility which discount you qualify for if you're unsure.
Payment Extensions and Level Pay - short term relief
If you need a short-term help, SoCalGas allows customers to request a payment extension through their online account at socalgas.com. The Level Pay Plan spreads your annual gas costs evenly across 12 months so your bill stays consistent rather than spiking in winter. Neither of these reduces what you owe, but both can help you avoid falling further behind during a temporary period of time.
Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) - grant to help pay a bill
The Gas Assistance Fund is a one-time grant program operated as a joint effort between SoCalGas and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles (website: https://unitedwayla.org/ways-to-help/give/gas-assistance-fund/). It's designed for customers facing a genuine hardship who need direct help with their bill. The grant goes directly to your SoCalGas account — you don't receive cash. Households with a member who is 55 or older are eligible for a higher grant amount. Income limits apply and are updated each program year.
One important detail: SoCalGas does not accept GAF applications directly. The program runs through a network of nonprofit partner agencies throughout SoCalGas's service territory. Contact the United Way at 211 (dial 2-1-1) to find the agency nearest to you, or check the agency list on SoCalGas's website at socalgas.com for locations and hours. Each agency operates on its own schedule, and some have limited availability.
Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) - help with a past due balance
If you've built up a past-due balance that feels impossible to dig out from under, the Arrearage Management Plan may help. AMP forgives your eligible past-due balance incrementally — each time you pay your current monthly bill on time and in full, SoCalGas forgives a portion of the arrearage. After 12 consecutive on-time, full payments, the entire eligible past-due amount is forgiven, up to a set maximum per enrollment period.
This is not a payment plan — you still need to pay current charges each month. But for customers who can stabilize their current spending, it's a way to clear old debt without paying it back directly. Call 1-800-427-2200 to ask about enrolling, or log into your account at socalgas.com.
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program - free SoCalGas weatherization option
The ESA Program is SoCalGas's free home weatherization program for income-qualified customers. It's not a bill credit — it's actual work done on your home to reduce how much gas you use going forward. Eligible improvements include attic insulation, furnace repair or replacement, water heater repair or replacement, water heater blankets, and clothes washer replacement. It can also include weatherstripping, caulking, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and minor door and window repairs.
You qualify based on income or participation in certain assistance programs including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and others. The income threshold for ESA is higher than for CARE, so some households who don't qualify for CARE may still qualify here. Both renters and homeowners are eigible. Call 1-800-331-7593 or visit socalgas.com to get started.
State LIHEAP for SoCalGas Customers
SoCalGas customers who meet California's income guidelines can also apply for the state's LIHEAP program, which pays a benefit directly toward your heating or cooling costs. Details on how California LIHEAP works, what the crisis component covers, and how weatherization fits in are on the California LIHEAP and weatherization page.
Contact Information
The customer service team at SoCalGas is always available as well to discuss options. The customer service team is at 1 (877) 238-0092. The main SoCalGas site is also at https://www.socalgas.com/billing-payment/assistance-programs which may offer more details.
A Scam Targeting CARE Enrollees
Because CARE covers so many SoCalGas customers, it's become a target for a specific fraud: callers claim your CARE discount is about to be suspended because SoCalGas couldn't verify your eligibility, and that you need to confirm your Social Security number or bank account information to keep it active. SoCalGas does periodically ask customers to recertify CARE eligibility, but that process happens by mail and through your online account — never through unsolicited calls asking for banking information or Social Security numbers on the spot. If you get a call like this, hang up and call SoCalGas directly at 1-800-427-2200 to check your actual account status.
This page provides general educational information about SoCalGas assistance programs. It is not legal or financial advice. Program availability, eligibility requirements, income limits, and grant amounts are subject to change. Confirm current details directly with SoCalGas or by calling 2-1-1 to reach local assistance agencies before making decisions.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
Need help navigating programs?