Program information checked October 6, 2026. This independent guide does not accept applications or award benefits.
Choose the right San Diego bill-assistance program
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) lists CARE discounts of 30% or more, FERA electric-bill discounts of 18%, and one-time assistance routes. Start with the type of help you need: a lower ongoing bill, help paying a balance, or a payment arrangement.
CARE and FERA: check the current household limits
Use SDG&E’s CARE/FERA enrollment tool to check your account. Its FERA guidance for June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 includes one- and two-person households. The previous version of this guide’s three-person minimum was outdated.
For a one- or two-person household, SDG&E lists FERA annual income from $43,281 to $54,100; for four people, $66,001 to $82,500. Check the full official table for your household size. SDG&E checks FERA eligibility when you apply for CARE, so you do not need separate applications for both.
Past-due energy bill
SDG&E routes LIHEAP applicants to MAAC or Campesinos Unidos based on ZIP code. Use its assistance directory to identify your provider.
Short-term hardship
SDG&E lists Neighbor-to-Neighbor help up to $150 for customers experiencing temporary hardship who do not qualify for other state or federal assistance. Ask about funding and intake.
Existing CARE or FERA customer
Check the Arrearage Management Payment plan for eligible past-due debt. AMP forgives one-twelfth of enrolled debt after each on-time current-bill payment, up to $8,000 over the plan.
Need more time
Contact SDG&E about a payment arrangement. Explain any disconnect date and ask the representative to confirm your next required payment.
LIHEAP through MAAC
MAAC’s energy-assistance office lists a benefit ceiling of $1,500, subject to the household’s circumstances and available funding. It requests photo identification, income records, and the complete current energy bill. Submit a disconnect notice if you need urgent help.
MAAC estimates eight to ten weeks from the start of staff review to payment and warns that applications may enter a waiting list. Call 619-434-3829 or use its official page for intake and follow-up instructions. Do not assume approval or a shutoff hold because you submitted a form.
Two older recommendations need caution
PIPP: SDG&E’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan page says the pilot is at enrollment capacity. Check with the utility for changes; do not rely on getting a new place.
LIHWAP: the California Department of Community Services and Development says the federal water-assistance program ended March 31, 2024 and no longer accepts applications. Contact the water provider named on your bill about current local help. LIHEAP energy assistance and LIHWAP water assistance have different rules.
Prepare a practical application plan
- Check the program’s service area before sending personal documents.
- Keep a copy of each form and record the date you submitted it.
- Ask which benefits can work together, and disclose pending assistance for the same bill.
- Set a follow-up date with the agency and keep in contact with your utility.
For longer-term costs, MAAC’s weatherization program offers assessments and approved improvements to income-qualified households. Read about weatherization, managing utility bills, and making an older home more energy efficient. Our utility assistance FAQs cover general application questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a one-person household qualify for FERA?
Yes. SDG&E’s June 2026–May 2027 FERA table includes one- and two-person households. Compare your income with the current official table.
Can I apply for California LIHWAP water assistance?
California says the federal LIHWAP program ended March 31, 2024 and no longer accepts applications. Ask your water provider about current local assistance.
Does applying for LIHEAP guarantee that SDG&E will stop a shutoff?
Do not assume a hold. Contact SDG&E and your assistance agency, provide the disconnect notice, and ask the utility to confirm the status of your account.
Use a direct application route
Start with SDG&E’s official assistance directory or the MAAC page above. This website does not collect applications or determine eligibility.