La Oferta

March 28, 2024

San José Clean Energy increases discount for customers with low incomes to offset high energy bills

The SJ Cares discount will save customers an extra $5.5 million this year

San José, Calif. (February 17, 2023) – San José Clean Energy (SJCE) increased its SJ Cares discount from 5% to 10% this year helping offset high energy bills for customers with low incomes. The SJ Cares program automatically provides an extra 10% off electric generation to customers who are enrolled in the state’s electricity discount programs: California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA).

“San José families are working harder than ever and many of us are struggling to pay our bills as the cost of just about everything keeps going up – and energy costs are no exception,” said Mayor Mahan. “Thanks to San José Clean Energy for helping out in this tough time by prioritizing affordability and customer savings. Increasing the SJ Cares discount will help over 75,000 San José residents worry just a little less about the cost of energy.”

The discount is combined with CARE and FERA discounts so that customers pay the lowest rates in San José. The average SJ Cares customer saves over $50 per month through the combined discounts. Enrolling in the state’s CARE or FERA program is often the first step in qualifying for other discount programs, including SJ Cares. Residents who need help with their bill should check to see if they are eligible for CARE or FERA by visiting www.sanjosecleanenergy.org/discount-programs or calling 833-432-2454. Customers apply for CARE and FERA through PG&E.

“Whether through automatic discounts, energy efficiency, or electrification, we’re here to help customers find ways to save on their bill,” said Lori Mitchell, director of the Community Energy Department, which operates SJCE. “Simple upgrades and adjusting habits can lead to significant energy savings without giving up comfort. Give us a call if you need help.”

With colder weather, more customers have been running their gas furnaces, leading to higher energy bills in January and February. Lowering energy usage, improving energy efficiency, and switching to electric appliances for cooking and heating can lead to significant bill savings.

  • Set your thermostat a little lower – just five degrees can save about 10% on your bill.
  • Turn the temperature on your water heater down to 120 degrees or less (every degree = 2% in savings). Most people have it set too high, so you may not even notice the difference.
  • Seal windows to reduce drafts and close your curtains or blinds to keep heat in at night. BayREN provides free energy savings kits to help improve efficiency.
  • Consider switching from gas to electric appliances. Electric appliances are more energy-efficient and cost less to use than gas ones, plus they are better for your health. There are tons of resources available to make the switch more affordable.

SJCE has been the local electric generation provider in San José since 2019. Customers receive one electricity bill from PG&E that includes electric generation charges from SJCE – it is not an extra charge. Instead, SJCE provides cheaper and more renewable energy than PG&E. PG&E continues to deliver electricity and gas, maintain powerlines, and respond to outages. Opting out of SJCE service will not save customers money.

About the City of San José
With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 10th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. In 2011, the City adopted Envision San José 2040, a long-term growth plan that sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City’s anticipated growth through the year 2040.

About San José Clean Energy
San José Clean Energy (SJCE) is the local, not-for-profit electricity generation provider for homes and businesses in the City of San José. SJCE is operated by the City’s Community Energy Department and governed by the City Council. SJCE provides 350,000 customer accounts with clean energy at competitive rates plus the additional benefits of customer choice, community programs, local control, transparency, and accountability. For more information, please visit www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.orgFollow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and LinkedIn @SJCleanEnergy.