CHICO >> Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says its customers are able to save on power bills through four avenues: at-home tricks, changing rate plans, discount programs and through debt relief.

Many of these cost-saving options can be combined for additional savings, according to the utility. While discount programs and debt relief pertain specifically to customers meeting financial or medical qualifications, switching plans and making at-home adjustments can be done by all.

PG&E Communications Officer Paul Moreno listed the following at-home tips: drawing the drapes or blinds, cleaning and replacing air filters, using the microwave instead of the stove and oven, cooking outside on a grill, using fans and setting the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher — health permitting.

In regard to rate changes, customers are able to check if they are on the lowest cost rate plan for their household by using PG&E’s online rate comparison tool. This is accessed through the customer’s online account.

This tool only pertains to customers who have been using PG&E for multiple months. New customers are unable to compare usage, and are typically recommended the Time-of-Use plan with peak pricing from 4-9 p.m. daily.

Beyond changing rates and at-home solutions, PG&E and state funded programs offer various discounts.

Discount programs

• The California Alternate Rates for Energy Program offers customers 20% off gas and an average of 35% off on electricity each month.

Customers who receive government assistance through programs such as Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Cal Fresh and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program qualify for CARE. A full list of qualifying programs is available on the program’s webpage at t.ly/4HXFr.

Customers who make under a certain amount of annual income also qualify. For example, a household of four making $64,300 or less meets the requirement.

Systemwide across PG&E’s network 1,381,483 households are enrolled in CARE, Moreno said. In Butte County, an estimated 32,187 households are eligible for the program with 31,931 currently enrolled. Households that are eligible for the program but are not enrolled total 256.

• The Family Electric Rate Assistance program offers an 18% discount on electric rates, but no discount on gas. Qualifying for FERA is based on income, with a different assessment than for the alternate rates program. For example, a household of four qualifies for the electric rate assistance program if their combined income is between $64,301 and $80,375.

Systemwide 41,139 households are enrolled in FERA, said Moreno. In Butte County, PG&E estimates 6,828 households are eligible with 864 enrolled. That leaves 5,964 eligible households unenrolled.

Moreno noted the large difference between enrolled and unenrolled FERA customers is due to a recent change in eligibility guidelines. As of June 1, PG&E started allowing one and two person households to qualify for FERA, he said.

There is a singular application for both the CARE and FERA. PG&E’s website states the application takes “a few minutes” and that applicants who do not qualify for one of the programs will be checked for the other. Applicants apply by selecting only their income or only government benefits status for qualification.

• The Energy Savings Assistance Program offers “more than just lower bills,” as the program’s webpage at t.ly/R6yf4 states. This program offers “appliance upgrades and home repairs” to renters and homeowners.

“Upgrade or repair heat pump water heaters, furnaces, lighting — even refrigerators. All at no charge,” states PG&E’s website.

To qualify, the applicant’s house, apartment or mobile home must be at least 5 years old. Applicants must also meet certain household income requirements to qualify or be enrolled in a qualifying government assistance program. For example, a household of two qualifies if they make $52,875 or less each year.

• The Medical Baseline Program offers discounts based solely on a customer’s medical condition, particularly those that require a medical device using electricity. Examples of qualifying medical equipment include motorized wheelchairs, CPAP machines, respirators and dialysis machines.

The Medical Baseline Program applies to customers on tiered rates offering “an additional allotment of energy every month at the lowest price available on their rate,” states the energy company’s website.

For this program, no income information or government assistance status is required.

Customers on the Medical Baseline Program will also receive additional alerts during power shutoffs.

Debt relief

PG&E also offers various forms of debt relief for customers with past due bills.

• The PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help program offers customers an energy credit up to $300 based on a past due bill. The purpose of REACH is to help customers experiencing financial crisis to avoid power shutoffs.

To qualify for REACH customers must have received a 15-day or 48-hour power shutoff notice. Financial qualifications are the same qualifications used to determine CARE eligibility.

• Through the PG&E Match My Payment Program, the energy company matches payments on past due bills dollar for dollar on customer’s payments. Qualifying customers must have a past due bill of at least $100, with match payments reaching up to $1,000.

For the match program, customers’ income must not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. For example, a household of three qualifies if their combined income does not exceed $106,600.

• The Low Income Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded assistance program offering up to $1,500 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for air conditioning.

• The Arrearage Management Plan is a program offering debt forgiveness up to $8,000 for customers enrolled in CARE or FERA.

Through enrolling in AMP, customers are eligible for full debt forgiveness if they pay their current bill on time over the course of 12 months.

“PG&E will move your eligible past due balance into an AMP agreement, so you will not see your AMP enrolled charges on your bill,” states a company script provided to new AMP participants. “Each on-time, full payment forgives 1/12 of the AMP enrolled balance.”

More information on all of these programs is available at pge.com.