Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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California program

Lower energy bills (CARE, FERA and Medical Baseline)

Discounted energy rates for eligible households, plus extra low-rate energy for certain medical needs.

What it is

Discounted energy rates for eligible households, plus extra low-rate energy for certain medical needs.

Your utility may reduce its rates because of low income or a qualifying benefit. Medical Baseline can allow more energy at the lowest rate for a qualifying medical need. It uses a separate medical test with no income limit.

Who can get it
  • For June 2026–May 2027, CARE’s annual income limit for four is $66,000.
  • Qualifying benefits include Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC, LIHEAP, SSI, CalWORKs/TANF, free school lunch, tribal Head Start and BIA General Assistance.
  • FERA gives an 18% electricity discount through PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E. From June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, annual income ranges are $43,281–$54,100 for one or two people, $54,641–$68,300 for three and $66,001–$82,500 for four. CARE has lower income limits and can also use qualifying benefits. Ask the utility which program fits. Enrollment is separate.
  • Medical Baseline has no income test. You need a qualifying medical or life-support need and the required medical certification. Cancer, a central line or home nursing alone does not establish that need. The benefit is extra low-rate energy, not cash or a guarantee against outages.
  • Certification can come from a physician, surgeon, osteopathic physician, nurse practitioner or physician-team physician assistant.
What you get
  • CARE discounts large-utility electricity by 30–35% and natural gas by 20%. Smaller-utility electricity discounts are 20%.
  • FERA discounts electricity by 18% for eligible households, including one- and two-person households at participating utilities.
  • Medical Baseline provides extra energy at the lowest residential rate and additional outage alerts.
What you get
  • CARE and FERA reduce eligible utility rates. Medical Baseline supplies an extra allowance at the lowest residential rate.
  • Medical Baseline also adds extra outage alerts.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask your electric or gas utility for CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline forms if you decide to apply.
  2. Have ready: your account number and income or qualifying-benefit information. Ask the clinician about the medical certification for Medical Baseline.

Your electric or gas utility’s assistance team · Official page ↗

What happens next
  • After approval, CARE or FERA discounts are expected on the next bill.
  • Medical Baseline starts after the signed certification is accepted. The bill shows the allowance.
Good to know

Medical Baseline is not free power and does not prevent a public-safety shutoff.

What else to know
  • If losing power would be dangerous for your child, the big utilities must hold off a shutoff when a doctor certifies it, you cannot pay, and you agree to a repayment plan of up to 12 months. City utilities have their own rules; ask yours.
  • Medical Baseline alone does not establish this nonpayment hold or prevent public-safety shutoffs.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline lower our utility costs? What limits, forms or medical certification come with each? Would you recommend applying, and could you help us?”

Why I’m asking: I want to reduce home energy costs and understand outage protections.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Fill in the CARE or FERA form online, and have the doctor sign the Medical Baseline form if home care needs extra energy.

Your social worker

The social worker can get the Medical Baseline form to the oncologist for signature.

The care team

The oncologist or nurse practitioner signs the Medical Baseline certification.

Who decides
The utility
Ask your social worker
“Can the oncologist sign the utility's Medical Baseline form for my child's home care? And which programs at home count for the CARE discount?”

How to apply

First step: Go to your utility's CARE/FERA page and self-certify today. Ask the oncologist to sign the Medical Baseline form if home care needs equipment or temperature control.

  1. Apply for CARE or FERA on the utility's website; tick the Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC or SSI box if it applies.
  2. Ask the oncologist to sign the utility's Medical Baseline form if home care needs equipment or temperature control.
  3. Ask the utility for its medical certificate hold if a shutoff notice comes.

Where it starts: The utility's CARE/FERA page (self-certify online) and its Medical Baseline form (doctor signs)

What to gather

  • The utility account number
  • Proof of Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC or SSI if you use that route
  • The Medical Baseline form for the doctor

How long: CARE and FERA start on the next bill after approval. Medical Baseline once the signed form is in.

What a yes looks like

The discount line on the next bill, and a Medical Baseline allowance on the rate.

What a no looks like, and the next move

A refusal naming income. Check the FERA band and the Medical Baseline route, which has no income test.

Watch out

  • Medical Baseline is an allowance at the lowest rate, not free power, and it does not stop a public-safety shutoff. It does add you to the extra-alert list.
  • FERA includes one- and two-person households at PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E. For June 1, 2026–May 31, 2027, income must be above the applicable CARE limit through the FERA upper limit; the electricity discount is 18%.
  • Medical shutoff protections are conditional, not a fixed 30- or 90-day hold. Public Utilities Code section 779 protects qualifying life-threatening cases at covered utility corporations when medical certification, inability to pay and an agreement to repay arrears over no more than 12 months are in place. Section 779.3 adds conditions for Medical Baseline customers with a qualifying life-threatening condition, life support or hospice care. The utility must confirm its jurisdiction, the required certification and the payment arrangement; municipal utilities and cooperatives may have different rules. These protections do not prevent emergency or wildfire safety outages.

Dates that change this

2026-06-01: CARE/FERA income limits effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 8, 2026.

What it is worth

CARE: 30 to 35% off electricity and 20% off gas. FERA: 18% off electricity. Medical Baseline: extra energy at the lowest rate for a medical need, any income.

  • $30 (20% at smaller utilities) — CARE electricity discount at the large utilities (minimum)
  • $35 — CARE electricity discount at the large utilities (maximum)
  • $20 — CARE natural gas discount
  • $18 — FERA electricity discount at participating utilities, including one- and two-person households
  • $66,000/year — CARE income limit, family of 4 (June 2026 – May 2027)
  • $82,500/year (band starts above the CARE limit) — FERA income upper limit, family of 4 (June 2026 – May 2027)

Covers: Medical Baseline: extra energy allowance at the lowest residential rate · Extra outage alerts for Medical Baseline customers

Legal protection: Medical shutoff protections are conditional, not a fixed 30- or 90-day hold. Public Utilities Code section 779 protects qualifying life-threatening cases at covered utility corporations when medical certification, inability to pay and an agreement to repay arrears over no more than 12 months are in place. Section 779.3 adds conditions for Medical Baseline customers with a qualifying life-threatening condition, life support or hospice care. The utility must confirm its jurisdiction, the required certification and the payment arrangement; municipal utilities and cooperatives may have different rules. These protections do not prevent emergency or wildfire safety outages.

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Care income
at or below the CPUC CARE table (about 200% FPL), June 2026 – May 2027
Care categorical
anyone at home on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC, LIHEAP, SSI, CalWORKs/TANF, free school lunch, Head Start (tribal) or BIA General Assistance
Fera
FERA includes one- and two-person households at PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E. For June 1, 2026–May 31, 2027, income must be above the applicable CARE limit through the FERA upper limit; the electricity discount is 18%.
Medical baseline
a medical need for extra energy certified by a physician, surgeon, osteopathic physician, nurse practitioner or physician-team PA; no income test

Decisions this site cannot make: Utility self-certification (CARE/FERA) · Practitioner certification (Medical Baseline)

Expect friction on: Each utility has its own form · Periodic recertification

The trap: Waiting for LIHEAP. CARE is an online self-certification at the utility and starts on the next bill.

Where I read this

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