You’re Helping to Fight Climate Change

As part of California’s efforts to fight climate change, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the California Climate Credit for eligible utility customers.

This credit is from the California Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires power plants, fuel providers, and large industrial facilities that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution allowances. The credit on your bill is designed to help utility customers during the transition to a low-carbon future.

CPUC SealBeginning April 1, 2014, SDG&E residential customers began receiving the “California Climate Credit” on their bills. The credit typically appears as an adjustment on billing statements twice a year.

Millions of California residents will receive a credit on their energy bills. Known as the “California Climate Credit,” it is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change. The credit comes from the California Cap-and-Trade Program, which is designed to cut carbon pollution while helping utility customers during the state’s transition to a low-carbon future.

When Will I Get My Credit? 

In 2023, the CPUC temporarily authorized SDG&E to distribute the gas and electric Climate Credits in February, March and October. Beginning in 2024, the gas and electric California Climate Credits will revert to the original April and October distribution.

Customers will receive their gas climate credit in April and their electric climate credits in April and October. The credits will appear on your utility bill as the “California Climate Credit.”

2024

APR OCT

Gas 

CA Climate Credit

$58.98

 

Electric

CA Climate Credit

$78.22

$78.22

What Do I Need To Do To Receive the Credit?

You don’t need to do anything to receive the credit — it’s automatically applied to your bill. The amounts vary among energy providers. See what other customers in the state are getting and read some frequently asked questions on the California Public Utilities Commission website.

View a sample bill to help you understand your climate credit.

What If I'm a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Customer (such as San Diego Community Power)? 

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customers will also receive the credit. 

For more information about the California Climate Credit, visit cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit.

Frequently Asked Questions

In 2023, the CPUC temporarily authorized SDG&E to distribute the Climate Credits in February, March and October to provide winter bill relief for customers. Beginning in 2024, the California Climate Credits will revert to the original April and October distribution.

Changing the distribution months does not change the total value of the climate credits you receive in a year. The gas credit amount is $58.98 (distributed in April), and the electric credit amount is $78.22 (distributed in April and October)

Visit our “Savings Center” section of our website for energy savings tips, rebates and programs as well as bill assistance services.

FAQs — Small Business Climate Credit for Electricity Customers

The Small Business Climate Credit is from the California Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires power plants, fuel providers, and other large industrial facilities that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution allowances.  The Small Business Climate Credit is designed to help utility customers during the transition to a low-carbon future.

A small business is defined by the CPUC as any non-residential customer on a general service or agricultural rate, whose usage doesn't exceed 20 kilowatts in more than three months out of the previous 12-month period. In other words, CPUC interprets small business as "non-residential customers with usage that is usually low." If you meet these criteria, you'll automatically receive the Small Business Climate Credit.

Electricity customers of SDG&E ®, PG&E, SCE, Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), Bear Valley Electric Service and Liberty Utilities (CalPeco Electric) can receive the Small Business Climate Credit if they meet these qualifying criteria.

Small businesses eligible to claim the California Industry Assistance Credit may only receive one of the two credits. If you choose to attest for the CA Industry Assistance Credit and are deemed eligible, you will stop receiving the Small Business Climate Credit for all electric service agreements associated with that facility.

Each year the State auctions a limited number of emission permits so that California can meet its goal of reducing its overall emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by the year 2030.

Some of the auction proceeds are used by the State to fight climate change, and some are returned to many Californians as a Climate Credit on their utility bills. This program is one of many developed as a result of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which put California at the forefront of efforts to battle climate change.

The CPUC developed and oversees the Climate Credit program implementation. The credit on your utility bill comes from revenues from the State program, not from the utility; however, the utilities deliver the credit on the State's behalf.

See the CPUC’s webpage on the Cap-and-Trade Program for more information.

In 2024, the credit will be distributed semiannually, in April and October.

The credit amount will vary from year to year. Each utility’s amount is based on their allowance auction forecasts and requires CPUC review and approval. In 2024, the Small Business Climate Credit amount is $78.22.

No, the Small Business Climate Credit is only available for electric customers.

No, the Small Business Climate Credit will be a flat dollar amount.