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SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Consumer Action has been awarded a contract by PG&E to support marketing, education and outreach efforts for multiple energy assistance programs targeting “hard-to-reach” populations and communities, families with children, seniors, people of color, persons with disabilities, immigrants and migrant workers, and and community-based organizations (CBOs) across the utility’s service territory. Consumers to be reached include rural, tribal, indigenous, language-isolated, geographically-isolated, low-income, disadvantaged communities (DACs), and populations that face barriers to access.

Consumer Action will provide targeted populations with information about the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) and Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) programs, as well as other programs that help make energy more affordable and efficient for qualifying households.

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) offers a 20% or more discount on your electricity and natural gas bill. Learn more.
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) offers an 18% discount on your electricity bill if your household income slightly exceeds the CARE allowances. Learn more.
• Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) provides no-cost weatherization services to consumers who meet the CARE income limits. Learn more.

Consumer Action has agreed to:

• Design a community outreach plan and education campaign to inform the target audiences about energy assistance programs that can help low- and moderate-income households reduce their energy bills.
• Work in collaboration with PG&E to design the outreach plan, identify target audiences and confirm the marketing strategies.
• Implement the outreach plan, train CBO staff and consumers on programs, assist in enrolling clients in programs, conduct media interviews, document community engagement, track performance metrics, and regularly report program progress to PG&E.

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, incorporated in California in 1905, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, the company is a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. In 2022, PG&E will be relocating its headquarters across the San Francisco Bay to Oakland, California. Pacific Gas and Electric Company and other energy companies in the state are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.