Assistance for Residential Customers

To speak to an SDG&E Customer Service Representative about any of these programs, call SDG&E at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For speech or hearing impaired customers, TDD/TTY is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week at 1-877-889-7343.

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)
• Energy Team – Free energy-saving home improvements
• Medical Baseline
• Back-up Power Devices for Medical Equipment
• Neighbor-to-Neighbor
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Third Party Notification
• Marking Appliances for the Blind
• Temperature Sensitive Program
• Cool Zones

Medical Baseline

The Medical Baseline program provides additional baseline allowance at the lowest rates for people with specific medical needs. This program is available if you, a family member or a full-time resident has a medical condition, such as being a paraplegic, having multiple sclerosis or scleroderma, or has a comprised immune system or life threatening illness that requires use of heat, air conditioning or life-support equipment. Click here for a list of qualifying devices.

To be placed on the program, you must return a completed application form certified by your physician (M.D. or O.D. only). The application is available by calling 1-800-411-SDGE (7343) or you may download the application.

Additional versions:

Back-up Power Devices for Medical Equipment

Community Resource

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pacific South Coast Chapter
5950 La Place Court--Suite 200
Carlsbad, CA 92008
website: www.mspacific.org
"Grant Me Independence" (GMI) Program
Contact: Lois Endres
1-800-486-6762
(May provide cash assistance for those with MS in San Diego County to purchase adaptive equipment or make
necessary modifications that they may not have been able to afford on their own and that their medical insurance will not cover. )

Neighbor-to-Neighbor

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund provides assistance of up to $200 on a customer’s bill. The program is open to qualified customers who are experiencing temporary financial hardship and are not eligible for state or federal assistance. Customers eligible for government assistance must apply for energy assistance under those programs before being considered for Neighbor-to-Neighbor assistance.

These funds are available now. Please call 2-1-1 to find participating agencies. Funded by SDG&E customers, employees and shareholders.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP is a federally funded assistance program administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). LIHEAP offers two types of assistance:

• Financial aid with energy bills
• Home weatherization

Appointed community-based agencies process LIHEAP applications for SDG&E's customers. Priority is given to people spending a high percentage of their income on energy and families with elderly or disabled members, or children under three years of age. Please contact 2-1-1 for LIHEAP income guidelines and referral to participating agencies.

Third Party Notification

If you or someone you know is elderly, sick, shut in or away from home often, it's possible to overlook a utility bill or Shut Off Notice. To protect your health and safety by preventing any unnecessary disruption in your gas and electric service, SDG&E offers the voluntary Third Party Notification Plan.

You can designate a friend, relative or community agency to remind you to pay your SDG&E bill. SDG&E will send that person or agency a copy of any late notice you receive, as well as a copy of any notice that your service may be stopped due to unpaid bills. The duplicate notices give the third party an opportunity to bring any late bills to your attention and offer you advice or aid.

Click here for the Third Party Notification Plan application.

Once the application is received, the plan will remain in effect for as long we serve you or until we receive a request to discontinue it. Please notify us if you or the designated third party move, or if you would like to designate a new third party.

Mail the completed application to:

SDG&E
Customer Contact Center - CP62
PO Box 129831
San Diego, CA 92112-9831

Marking Appliances for the Blind

If a relative or friend you know has limited vision, an SDG&E service technician can go to that person's home and mark range dials and thermostats to make them easier to use. To request this service for someone, call 1-800-411-7343 to make an appointment.

Temperature Sensitive Program

If extreme heat poses a health risk for anyone in your home and your living space must be kept at a constant temperature, sign up for advance notification of rolling blackouts. SDG&E offers automated notification calls in case of state-directed power outages that could affect customers vulnerable to extreme temperatures.

You don't need to enroll in the Temperature Sensitive Program if you are enrolled in SDG&E's Medical Baseline Program, since you already receive advance notification of rotating power outages. To apply for this free service, call 1-800-411-SDGE (7343) or download the application:

Temperature Sensitive Program Application (English)

Para clientes vulnerables a la temperatura (Español)

Cool Zones
Established by the County of San Diego , Cool Zones offer a place for senior citizens to escape mid-day summer heat and reduce their own air conditioning use. People with special needs and the general public can also visit these sites. The County's Aging and Independence Services (AIS) coordinates these sites, normally located in senior centers and public buildings. SDG&E works with AIS to enable seniors and the disabled who don't have transportation get to a Cool Zone site.

In addition, seniors and the disabled who need portable fans but cannot afford to purchase one will be eligible to receive a fan free of charge. Most Cool Zone sites are open weekday afternoons from July through October. You can get location information by calling AIS at 1-800-510-2020.