If you need to reduce your utility bills, have you thought about first asking your utility company?

Sure, you can’t call them up and just ask for a loan, but many utility companies have a lot of programs to help its customers. Some of these programs are mandated by the state, and some are voluntary contributions offered by utility companies. Like roads, everyone deserves access to electricity.

I live in California. In particular, am a PG&E customer. Today, I want to highlight some of the programs they offer that help residents with their PG&E bills. Here are some of the programs they offer:

PG&E Energy Savings Assistance Program is a smart solution for clients striving to pay less for electric energy, and still using both to the best of their advantage. This particular program considers eligible homeowners who:

• Have lived in a house, a mobile home or an apartment for over 5 years
• Have received an income, agreeable with the program’s guidelines, as provided on their official website

The first thing to do is to apply for the program via a short online application form. Once done, an energy specialist will pay your home a visit, making sure this program is the most suitable for your household. Given that everything is in accordance with the provisions, PG&E’s specialist will execute a list of improvements necessary for your residence, and then it’s down to making it happen.

PG&E Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is supported through a federal assistance program. The LIHEAP offers the following services:

• Assistance with household utility bill costs and payments
• Emergency help regarding various household energy issues, such as utility shut-off notices safety-related energy emergencies
• Home weatherization

This program is generally focused on helping out vulnerable groups, such as seniors, multiple-child families and disabled entities.

PG&E California Alternate Rates for Energy Program, also known as the CARE program, is a program based on public assistance participation or the total number of residents in a household and their respective income. The CARE program assists numerous households across the state, helping them acquire up to 20 percent gas and electricity discount on monthly bills.

The application process and eligibility requirements are the same as with the Energy Saving Assistance Program. Both programs are also available for renewal once the initial enrollment expires.

The FERA or Family Electric Rate Assistance Program provides electricity bills discount for low-income families of minimum three residents. The program enables clients to use electricity at a much lower rate, while still maintaining its usage satisfactory.

Aside from this, the PG&E has developed a mentoring and educational platform, where all interested parties can educate themselves on smart living, managing cost-friendly utility bills, and ultimately, solving community issues by including master PG&E meter systems to create a cost-effective electricity and gas usage for all layers of society.

Note: This is related to another post covering other ways PG&E help its customers lower their electricity and gas bills.