LOS ANGELES, June 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. More low-income customers may now be eligible to
receive a rate discount and no-cost energy-saving home improvements
from SoCalGas due to new income guidelines that went into effect
June 1 for qualified customers who
enroll in the state-sponsored California Alternate Rate for Energy
(CARE) and Energy Savings Assistance Program.
The higher income limit means a family can earn more and still
be eligible for assistance programs like CARE, which gives
income-qualified customers 20 percent off their monthly natural gas
bill. The previous limit of $31,820
for a family of two expired Tuesday. The current limit is
$32,040 a year. Each additional
person adds $8,320. For example, a
household of four can earn up to $48,600 to be eligible.
"We are pleased to inform our community about the new guidelines
and to encourage those who qualify and can benefit from our
assistance programs to enroll," said Lisa
Alexander, vice president of Customer Solutions &
Communications for SoCalGas. "The monthly rate discount and savings
from no-cost energy-efficient home improvements can make a real
difference, especially for struggling families."
Customer Anselma Hernandez says
she appreciates the money she saves on her natural gas bill each
month through her participation in CARE.
"The program is very good and it is easy to apply," said
Hernandez, who lives in Santa Ana,
Calif. "I like how I was treated and it has helped my family
very much."
Luis Barajas, also from
Santa Ana, said he has been
enrolled in CARE for a long time and always recommends it to his
friends, family and neighbors. "I use the savings I receive to pay
other bills," he said.
Here is additional information about the programs:
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 may include:
- Door weather-stripping and caulking to keep unwanted drafts out
of the home
- Attic insulation to help make homes cooler in summer and warmer
in winter
- Low-flow showerheads that can save energy used to heat
water
- Furnace replacement (owner occupied residences only)
- Other minor home repairs
CARE and Energy Savings Assistance Program Eligibility:
There are two ways customers can qualify for the CARE and Energy
Savings Assistance Program. Customers may automatically be eligible
if their household income is below the new guidelines or a
household member currently receives 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).
As of June 1, 2016, the new CARE
and Energy Savings Assistance Program income guidelines are as
follows:
Income Guidelines
based on pre-tax annual income
|
Household
Size
|
Income Eligibility
Upper Limit
|
1-2
|
$32,040
|
3
|
$40,320
|
4
|
$48,600
|
5
|
$56,880
|
6
|
$65,160
|
7
|
$73,460
|
8
|
$81,780
|
Each Additional
Person
|
$8,320
|
* Effective June 1,
2016 to May 31, 2017
|
Customers can learn more and apply for these and other programs
by visiting socalgas.com/assistance or by any of the
following:
Apply for CARE online at socalgas.com/care or by phone
(800) 427-2200 or (800) 342-4545 in Spanish.
Apply for Energy Savings Assistance Program online at
socalgas.com/improvements or they can call (800) 331-7593
English and Spanish.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean,
safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145
years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility,
providing service to 21.6 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. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:
SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in
San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.