LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) customer Anne
Birthistle says she is grateful for the no-cost
energy-efficient home improvements that were made to her
Glendale home that will help her
save energy and money. She took part in the Energy Savings
Assistance Program. She also participates in the CARE program where
she receives a 20 percent discount on her natural gas bill every
month.
Now, more SoCalGas customers are eligible to take part in these
state-sponsored, money-saving, no-cost customer assistance programs
as a result of updated income guidelines that went into effect on
June 1.
"SoCalGas is committed to enrolling as many of our eligible
customers as possible into the assistance programs we offer and
wants to spread the word that more customers are now eligible to
sign up for these programs," said Rodger
Schwecke, vice president of customer solutions for SoCalGas.
"With that in mind, we are currently launching a targeted
communications campaign to help get this message out. We know our
customers like to receive information in a variety of ways so we
are utilizing different channels to reach them, including social
media."
CARE: The CARE program provides a 20 percent rate
discount on the monthly natural gas bill for eligible households
and has already enrolled over 1.5 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.
Energy Savings Assistance Program:
This 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,
warmer in the winter;
- Low-flow showerheads that can save energy used to heat
water;
- Furnace replacement (owner occupied residences only);
- Other minor home repairs.
There are two ways customers can qualify for the CARE and Energy
Savings Program (see below chart). Customers may automatically be
eligible if their household income is below the new guidelines or a
household member currently receive benefits from any of the
following public assistance programs: Medi-Cal/Medicaid, Medi-Cal
for Families A&B, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), CalWORKs
(TANF) or Tribal TANF, Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only),
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, CalFresh (Food
Stamps), National School Lunch Program, Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
More customers can now qualify for these programs. As of
June 1, 2015, the new CARE and Energy
Savings Assistance Program income guidelines, based on pre-tax
annual income, are as follows:
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150603/220423-INFO
Customers can learn more and apply for these and other programs
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 or by phone (800)
427-2200 or (800) 342-4545 in Spanish.
- Apply for Energy Savings Assistance Program online at
http://www.socalgas.com/for-your-home/assistance-programs/esap/form/index.shtml
or they can call (800) 331-7593 English and Spanish.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California
Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to
its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation's largest
natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.4 million
consumers connected through 5.9 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.
Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra
Energy (NYSE: SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services
holding company with 2014 revenues of $11
billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 17,000 employees serve
more than 32 million consumers worldwide.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150126/171209LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-socalgas-low-income-customers-eligible-for-bill-assistance-programs-300093166.html
SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.