LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2013 – More low-income Southern California Gas Co.
(SoCalGas) customers are eligible to save 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bill
and receive no-cost energy efficient home improvements as a result of updated income
guidelines for the state-sponsored California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and
Energy Savings Assistance Program.
“SoCalGas is committed to enrolling as many eligible customers as possible into
our assistance programs,” said Rodger Schwecke, vice president of customer solutions
for SoCalGas. “Together with our community partners, we engage in continuous
outreach to help ensure our customers know about the many assistance programs
available to help them in difficult economic times.”
The CARE program provides a 20-percent rate discount on the monthly natural
gas bill for eligible households and has already enrolled about 1.6 million customers
throughout the SoCalGas service area. Those who qualify and are approved within 90
days of starting new gas service will also receive a $15 discount on the Service
Establishment Charge.
The Energy Savings Assistance Program provides no-cost energy efficient home
improvements to income-qualified renters and homeowners. Services include door weather-stripping and caulking to keep unwanted drafts out of the home; attic
insulation to help the home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter; low-
flow showerheads that can save energy used to heat water; furnace replacement (owner
occupied only); high-efficiency clothes washers and other minor home repairs.
Customers may be automatically eligible if they or a household member
currently receive benefits from any of the following programs: Medi-Cal/Medicaid,
Healthy Families A & B, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), CalWORKs (TANF),
Tribal TANF, Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only), The Bureau of Indian Affairs
General Assistance (BIA-GA), CalFresh/SNAP (Food Stamps), National School Lunch
Program, Supplemental Security Income (NSLP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
As of June 1, 2013, the new CARE and Energy Savings Assistance Program
income guidelines, based on pre-tax annual income, are as follows:
Customers can learn more and apply by visiting http://www.socalgas.com/for-
your-home/assistance-programs/ or by any of the following:
• Apply for CARE online at https://carescgp.sempra.com/careappl.aspx .
• Apply for Energy Savings Assistance Program online at
http://www.socalgas.com/for-your-home/assistance-programs/esap/form/index.shtml
• Call SoCalGas toll-free at (800) 427-2200 or (800) 342-4545 in Spanish.
In addition to the CARE and Energy Savings Assistance Programs, SoCalGas
also offers programs for customers who qualify through a limited income or special
medical needs:
• The Gas Assistance Fund helps provide a one-time grant to customers during
the winter who are income qualified and unable to pay their bill.
• The Medical Baseline Allowance program assists customers who have a
person in the home with certain medical conditions that may require
additional heating to sustain their health. There are no income requirements
for the Medical Baseline program; however doctor certification is required to
receive additional natural gas at the lowest baseline rate.
News media can get the latest news by following @SoCalGasNews on Twitter.
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About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and
reliable natural gas to its customers for 145 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas
distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers connected through
nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and
Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).