California's extreme weather shutoff rule, 12-month payment plans, CARE and FERA discounts, AMP debt forgiveness, LIHEAP through CSD and CPUC complaints.
Which California rules apply to you
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE), and most of the protections below come from CPUC decisions. Many Californians get power or water from a city department, a public utility district or a local water agency instead. Those providers set their own discount, payment and shutoff policies, so check the name on your bill and ask that provider for its rules. Water and sewer bills in particular are often handled locally. Whoever your provider is, ask two questions on the first call: what amount stops the shutoff, and which payment plan can you join today.
Extreme weather and medical baseline protections
In Decision 20-06-003, the CPUC barred the investor-owned electric utilities from disconnecting customers when temperatures above 100 degrees or below 32 degrees are expected within a 72-hour look-ahead period. For gas utilities, the bar applies to the below 32 degree forecast. The same decision made permanent the rule that medical baseline customers are not disconnected, as long as a customer with past-due charges agrees to a 12-month payment plan. Medical Baseline bills customers at the utility's lowest residential rate for the extra energy their medical needs require, and SCE, for example, lists an added 16.5 kilowatt-hours a day. Ask your utility for the application, which needs a medical provider's signature, and start that paperwork early.
Payment plans and the Arrearage Management Plan
Decision 20-06-003 also requires investor-owned utilities to offer every customer a payment plan of at least 12 months, and you may choose a shorter one. Ask for the full 12 months if a lower monthly amount is what keeps you current. Customers enrolled in California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) can also ask about the Arrearage Management Plan (AMP). PG&E and SCE each describe debt forgiveness of up to $8,000 for CARE or FERA enrollees who qualify. Ask your utility how much of your balance qualifies, what monthly amount the plan expects and what happens if a payment is late, so there are no surprises a few months in.
CARE, FERA and no-cost upgrades
CARE gives qualified households a 30 to 35 percent discount on electric bills and a 20 percent discount on natural gas bills, according to the CPUC. FERA gives an 18 percent electric discount to households whose income slightly exceeds the CARE limits. Both are based on income and household size, and you apply through your utility. The Energy Savings Assistance Program provides no-cost weatherization services to households that meet CARE income limits, and PG&E and SCE describe it as free home upgrades and energy saving appliances. A lower rate does not touch an old balance, so pair a discount with a payment plan or AMP. The CPUC also notes that some water companies offer income-based discounts, so ask your water provider too.
LIHEAP through the Department of Community Services and Development
California's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is run by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) through local service providers. It has three main parts. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) makes a one-time payment toward an eligible household's utility bill. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps households in crisis, such as those holding a 24 to 48 hour disconnect notice or facing a potentially life-threatening energy problem like a faulty combustion appliance. LIHEAP Weatherization offers free efficiency upgrades. Use the Find Services In Your Area page on the CSD website to pick the provider for your city or county, or call 2-1-1. CSD warns that funding is limited, so some eligible households may not receive a benefit.
Utility hardship funds and CPUC complaints
PG&E's Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program can pay up to $800 toward past-due bills for customers who have received a disconnection notice. SCE's Energy Assistance Fund offers eligible customers up to $200 once a year. Gas companies and smaller utilities may run their own funds, so ask yours by name. If customer service cannot resolve a billing or shutoff problem, you can file an informal complaint with the CPUC through its website. Before filing, gather the dates of each notice and call, your account details and a clear statement of the outcome you want, such as a longer plan or a corrected charge.
Settlemont for a California utility bill
Discounts and forgiveness plans can take a billing cycle or two to show up, and Settlemont gives you another way to get a specific Utility bill covered while they do. Settlemont is bill payment technology from a for-profit company. Your submission is private and short: first name, email, state, bill category, amount and due date. After a one-time private access code, you identify your utility in a separate step, and staff independently verify the utility, you and the current balance. Only your first name, California, the category and the verified amount appear publicly. Supporters pay a service fee of 7% by card or 5% by bank on top of their chosen amount, while you pay no fee at all. A posted bill is not guaranteed to be paid before its due date.
Sources
- California Public Utilities Commission: Financial Assistance, Savings and Discounts
- California Public Utilities Commission: Decision 20-06-003 on residential disconnections
- California Public Utilities Commission: File a Complaint
- California Department of Community Services and Development: LIHEAP
- PG&E: Financial Assistance
- SCE: Residential Assistance
Facts checked November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or utility before relying on a protection.
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