Utility Assistance

The first picture is of a gas and electric meter you would find on the side of your house. the second is of a water faucet dripping. the third is of an energy effecient light bulb.

2-1-1 San Diego can connect and assess you for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) programs and other resources in the community to help you stay on top of your energy bills and make your household’s energy use more efficient.

2-1-1 San Diego Client Service Representatives can screen you for the following programs that can help you save money on your energy bill:

California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

Save up to 35% on your monthly bill with CARE. Depending on your household’s income, you may qualify for a discount on your SDGE bill. 2-1-1 can screen you for the program and submit your application for you.

Medical Baseline

The Medical Baseline program provides additional baseline allowance (electricity at the lowest rate) for people with specific medical needs. This program is available to customers where a family member or a full-time resident has one or more of the following medical conditions: 

  • Paraplegia
  • Multiple sclerosis or scleroderma
  • A compromised immune system
  • Life threatening illness that requires use of heat, air conditioning or life-support equipment

Call 2-1-1 for more information, or click here to visit SDGE’s website.

Energy Savings Assistance Program

2-1-1 can submit your application on your behalf for the Energy Savings Assistance Program. If your home or apartment qualifies, you will receive personal visits from contractors who can help you do the following things for your home:

  • Install improvements to help make your home more energy efficient.
  • Help you understand the best ways you can save energy around your home.
  • Determine whether some of your appliances are eligible for free repairs or replacement.

Call 2-1-1 for more information, or click here to visit SDGE’s website.

Utility Bill Payment Assistance

There are other resources available in our community for utility bill assistance, including a number of financial assistance programs that can help you pay your utility costs.

Click here for additional Utility Bill Assistance information.

Additional Resources

SDG&E Saving Energy –
A Floor- To Ceiling Guide

10 Easy Energy Savings Tips

1. Reduce lighting where possible and take advantage of natural daylight. Turning lights off or dimming them during the day allows for lower energy costs and a more comfortable environment. Also, remove excess lighting, and turn off signage and other lights not necessary for security and safety.

2. Install occupancy sensors. These inexpensive devices can reduce lighting costs by up to 40 percent by turning off lights in unoccupied areas.

3. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which can last up to ten times longer. CFLs provide the same amount of (light) lumens as standard incandescent bulbs, but use up to 75 percent less energy.

4. Replace incandescent lights in exit signs with LED fixtures, which can reduce costs of these signs by up to 95 percent.

5. Adjust the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer and shut off when not in use. Even a few degrees can significantly reduce heating and air conditioning costs.

6. Install programmable thermostats or time clocks to automatically control temperature settings on heating and air conditioning equipment.

7. Turn off or set office equipment to power down when not in use. Turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends can save up to $80 a year. And setting PCs, monitors and copiers to use sleep mode when not in use can help cut energy costs by up to 50 percent.

8. Lower the thermostat on your water heater. 120° F is sufficient for many common uses. A 10° F reduction can save up to 5 percent on water heating costs.

9. Invest in energy-efficient equipment. When upgrading or adding new equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol, which indicates the equipment meets federal standards for energy efficiency.