California Arrearage
Payment Program (CAPP)

CAPP is a state program to help eligible customers pay past due energy bills incurred during the pandemic period. CAPP assistance funds will be applied by SDG&E as a payment on qualified customer bills. Customers may not apply for CAPP. The CAPP amount will appear on eligible customers' next bill after February 7, 2022. CAPP payments will only show on your paper bill or via your bill PDF in My Account. Eligible customers may also receive an email or letter with their CAPP payment information.
How It Works
Customers with an unpaid energy utility bill for charges incurred between March 4, 2020 and June 15, 2021 may be eligible for a CAPP credit. This bill credit is a courtesy of the State of California and is intended to help customers that fell behind on their energy bills due to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Additionally, there are many other assistance programs available to help with monthly utility bills, including flexible payment options. Learn more about our other assistance programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
CAPP is a state program that provides financial assistance to eligible California energy utility customers to help reduce past due energy bills incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic period of March 4, 2020 to June 15, 2021.
SDG&E residential customers who have outstanding past due balances that were incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic period of March 4, 2020 to June 15, 2021 are eligible for CAPP.
CAPP funds were applied to eligible customer accounts in early February. The CAPP amount will appear on eligible customers' next bill after February 7, 2022. CAPP payments will only show on your paper bill or via your bill PDF in My Account.
No, customers do not need to apply to receive assistance. A CAPP payment will be automatically added to all eligible accounts. Please note that the SDG&E Customer Care Center does not have information regarding eligible accounts or specific dollar amounts.
No, SDG&E has been provided a specific allotment by California's Department of Community Services & Development (CSD) for CAPP relief. Based on guidelines provided by the State, SDG&E will prioritize CAPP assistance to active residential accounts that have outstanding past due charges from the COVID-19 period.
Note: Municipal/government, industrial, street light and agriculture accounts are not eligible for CAPP benefits.
No, you do not need to be on a low-income program to be eligible for CAPP.
March 4, 2020 to June 15, 2021
CAPP funds were applied to eligible customer accounts in early February. If eligible, the CAPP amount will appear on your next bill after February 7, 2022. CAPP payments will only show on your paper bill or via your bill PDF in My Account.
SDG&E, CCAs and Direct Access Load Serving Entities were allocated money by the State of California to help relieve eligible customer outstanding debt incurred during the CAPP COVID-19 pandemic period of March 4, 2020 – June 15, 2021.
Based on SDG&E’s allocated amount of CAPP funds and the number of customers who had debt during this period, eligible active SDG&E residential customers received CAPP assistance of approximately 92% toward their outstanding utility pandemic period arrearages.
Eligible customers who received electric service from a CCA or DA LSE provider during the COVID-19 pandemic period, received CAPP funds toward eligible past due CCA or DA commodity arrearages.
If you are eligible to receive CAPP assistance, the credit will cover approximately 92% of your outstanding past due balances incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic period of March 4, 2020 – June 15, 2021. Any outstanding balances accrued before or after this period will not be covered.
If you need help with your remaining account balance and you are not already on an existing payment plan, SDG&E offers our customers flexible payment options including extended payment arrangements. Visit My Account to make arrangements.
In addition, there are assistance programs available to help you with your monthly utility bills. Visit sdge.com/assistance to learn more about our other assistance programs.
Receiving electric service from a CCA will not change your CAPP eligibility. If you are eligible for CAPP funding, a portion will be allocated to your outstanding CCA debt.
Being a solar customer does not change your CAPP eligibility. If you are eligible, CAPP funding will be applied toward outstanding charges that trued up during the pandemic period.
Enrollment in a payment plan did not change your CAPP eligibility. If you were eligible, your payment plan may have changed due to CAPP funds being applied to your account.
If you received CAPP funds, your AMP plan may have changed due to CAPP funds being applied to your account. CAPP funds can only be applied to open debt incurred during the CAPP Covid-19 pandemic period of March 4, 2020 – June 15, 2021. Any remaining amounts in your AMP plan that were not covered by CAPP will be included in an updated plan for your remaining number of months. If CAPP funds covered your remaining outstanding past due balance, your AMP plan will have successfully completed.
Enrollment in AMP did not change your CAPP eligibility. If you were eligible for CAPP assistance, your monthly AMP debt forgiveness may have changed due to CAPP funds being applied to your account.
CAPP assistance only applies to charges accrued between March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. Any past due charges accrued prior to or after the COVID-19 period will not be eligible.
There are many assistance programs available to help you with your monthly utility bills. Visit sdge.com/assistance to learn more about our other assistance programs.
If you need help with your remaining account balance and you are not already on an existing payment plan, SDG&E offers our customers flexible payment options including extended payment arrangements. Visit My Account to make arrangements.
CAPP assistance only applies to charges accrued between March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. Any past due charges accrued prior to or after the COVID-19 period will not be eligible.
There are many assistance programs available to help you with your monthly utility bills. Visit sdge.com/assistance to learn more about our other assistance programs.
If you need help with your remaining account balance and you are not already on an existing payment plan, SDG&E offers our customers flexible payment options including extended payment arrangements. Visit My Account to make arrangements.
No, CAPP funds are a one-time credit to your account and the funds do not need to be repaid.
Yes, we recognize that this is still a challenging time for many customers. There are many assistance programs available to help you with your monthly utility bills. Visit sdge.com/assistance to learn more about our other assistance programs.
If you received CAPP funds, you are protected from disconnection for 90 days from the time CAPP funds were applied to your account on February 5, 2022.
SDG&E offers a variety of assistance programs to all customers including flexible payment plans, low-income assistance and other programs. Visit sdge.com/assistance for more information.
Only eligible customers who are still carrying outstanding debt that accrued on their account between March 4, 2020 to June 15, 2021 may receive CAPP assistance.
The CAPP credit amount is directly related to the amount of outstanding debt remaining on a customer account from the COVID pandemic period of March 4, 2020 – June 15, 2021.
Eligible active SDG&E residential customers received CAPP assistance of approximately 92% of their outstanding utility pandemic period arrearages.
Eligible customers who received electric service from a CCA or DA LSE provider during the COVID-19 pandemic period, received CAPP funds toward eligible past due CCA or DA commodity arrearages.
CAPP was established by the California Legislature in the 2021-22 State Budget. It is being funded through State and Federal funds.
No, CAPP bill credits are courtesy of the State of California and are not funded by SDG&E customers.
CAPP is administered by the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD). To learn more about the program, view the CAPP page on the California Department of Community Services and Development website.