WAYS THAT YOU CAN SAVE A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR HEATING BILLS. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HOW GLOOMY IT’S LOOKED OUTSIDE AND HOW COLD, HOW CHILLY IT’S FELT IN AND AROUND SACRAMENTO LATELY. BUT THAT MIGHT HAVE YOU AT HOME THINKING ABOUT YOUR HEATING BILL THAT IS SOON TO COME. STEP OUTSIDE SACRAMENTO LATELY AND IT’S GRAY SKIES AND CHILLY TEMPERATURES. OH YEAH, IT HAS I DON’T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I’M IN SEATTLE OR PORTLAND. NOT TO PUT THOSE CITIES DOWN, BUT YOU KNOW. YEAH, IT’S GLOOMY, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST KIND OF GETS DEPRESSING AFTER A WHILE. WE’RE SO USED TO THE SUN, YOU KNOW, GREG HOYT MADE SURE TO BUNDLE UP BEFORE HEADING OUT ON HIS WALK. OH, MY GOSH, I’VE GOT FLEECE ON. I’VE GOT GORE-TEX ON. YEAH, YEAH. MY HAT. YEAH. AND GLOVES. FOR THOSE STAYING INDOORS AND CRANKING UP THE HEAT, WE’RE WELL AWARE THAT PEOPLE WILL USE MORE NATURAL GAS IN WINTER AND GENERALLY MORE ELECTRICITY DURING SUMMER. AND WE’VE ALWAYS OFFERED WAYS TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS SAVE ON THEIR ENERGY USAGE. LOCAL UTILITIES ARE ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO REACH OUT FOR WAYS TO KEEP THE COST OF HEATING BILLS DOWN DURING THIS COLD STRETCH. WE ALSO HAVE A NEW TOOL CALLED SAVINGS FINDER. IT’S ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY TAKE A SURVEY AND WE CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY PROGRAMS YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR, AND ALSO ENERGY SAVING TIPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. SMUD WANTS TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS TO ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO AN ENERGY AUDIT. LOOK INTO REPLACING INEFFICIENT APPLIANCES, AND TO REACH OUT ABOUT ANY OF ITS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THEIR HOME A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AS WE’RE REMINDED THAT WE REALLY NEED THOSE HEATERS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE USING THEM AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. THE STATE ALSO RECEIVES FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR ITS LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT IF YOU MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT PROGRAM ON ITS WEBSITE. CST DOT GOV IN SACRAMENTO, LEE ANNE DENYER KCRA THREE NEWS. BOTH SMUD AND PG&E HAVE INCOME BASED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO PROGR
Utilities offer tips for lowering heating bills as chilly temperatures continue in Sacramento area
As Sacramento experiences gray skies and cold temperatures, local utilities offer tips and programs to help residents manage their heating bills.
Updated: 7:45 PM PST Dec 9, 2025
As Sacramento residents continue to experience gray skies and chilly temperatures, local utilities are offering tips and programs to help manage heating bills. “I feel like I’m in Seattle or Portland. Not to put those cities down, but, you know, it’s gloomy,” said longtime Sacramento resident Greg Hoyt on Tuesday.He said the cold weather hadn’t deterred him from regular long walks outside with his dog, Oreo.“I’ve got fleece on. I’ve got Gore-Tex,” he said. “My hat and gloves.”For those opting to stay inside and crank up the heat, spokespeople for both PG&E and SMUD offered tips for keeping heating costs down and shared information about programs that can help customers struggling to pay their bills.“There are a variety of programs that are available to customers to help them reduce and manage their energy bills,” said Paul Moreno, of PG&E Marketing & Communications. Moreno shared information about the programs below for income-eligible customers:California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and, on average, 38% on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).New guidelines for the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program provide a monthly discount of 18% on electricity, regardless of household size.Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program provides energy-savings improvements at no charge. New income eligibility guidelines apply.PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance Through Community Help (REACH): The program provides up to a $300 bill credit to help income-eligible customers with past due balances to prevent service disconnections.PG&E Match My Payment Program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low-to moderate-income customers to pay past-due bills to prevent service disconnections. Customers must make at least a $50 payment toward their outstanding bill each time to receive matching dollars.“We’re well aware that people will use more natural gas in winter and generally more electricity during summer and we’ve always offered ways to help our customers save on their energy usage if they have a change in their usage. They can talk to us, and maybe we can help them figure out what’s behind that,” Moreno said.PG&E has introduced a new tool called Savings Finder, available on its website, which allows customers to take a survey to identify eligible programs and energy-saving tips. “You can essentially take a survey, and we can help you identify programs you may be eligible for and also energy-saving tips so you can take advantage of,” Moreno said.SMUD is also encouraging its customers to reach out for ways to lower bills. A spokesperson for the utility also encouraged them to conduct an energy audit, consider replacing inefficient appliances, and contact SMUD for details about assistance programs. “Customers are always welcome to visit our website to learn more about these various programs, about how to make their home a little bit more energy efficient, especially right now as we’re reminded that we really need those heaters,” said Gamaliel Ortiz, a spokesperson for SMUD.The state also receives federal dollars for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. (LIHEAP.) It’s designed for low-income households and distributed through a local service provider. For more information, follow this link.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
As Sacramento residents continue to experience gray skies and chilly temperatures, local utilities are offering tips and programs to help manage heating bills.
“I feel like I’m in Seattle or Portland. Not to put those cities down, but, you know, it’s gloomy,” said longtime Sacramento resident Greg Hoyt on Tuesday.
He said the cold weather hadn’t deterred him from regular long walks outside with his dog, Oreo.
“I’ve got fleece on. I’ve got Gore-Tex,” he said. “My hat and gloves.”
For those opting to stay inside and crank up the heat, spokespeople for both PG&E and SMUD offered tips for keeping heating costs down and shared information about programs that can help customers struggling to pay their bills.
“There are a variety of programs that are available to customers to help them reduce and manage their energy bills,” said Paul Moreno, of PG&E Marketing & Communications.
Moreno shared information about the programs below for income-eligible customers:
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program provides a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and, on average, 38% on electricity (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).New guidelines for the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program provide a monthly discount of 18% on electricity, regardless of household size.Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program provides energy-savings improvements at no charge. New income eligibility guidelines apply.PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance Through Community Help (REACH): The program provides up to a $300 bill credit to help income-eligible customers with past due balances to prevent service disconnections.PG&E Match My Payment Program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low-to moderate-income customers to pay past-due bills to prevent service disconnections. Customers must make at least a $50 payment toward their outstanding bill each time to receive matching dollars.
“We’re well aware that people will use more natural gas in winter and generally more electricity during summer and we’ve always offered ways to help our customers save on their energy usage if they have a change in their usage. They can talk to us, and maybe we can help them figure out what’s behind that,” Moreno said.
PG&E has introduced a new tool called Savings Finder, available on its website, which allows customers to take a survey to identify eligible programs and energy-saving tips.
“You can essentially take a survey, and we can help you identify programs you may be eligible for and also energy-saving tips so you can take advantage of,” Moreno said.
SMUD is also encouraging its customers to reach out for ways to lower bills. A spokesperson for the utility also encouraged them to conduct an energy audit, consider replacing inefficient appliances, and contact SMUD for details about assistance programs.
“Customers are always welcome to visit our website to learn more about these various programs, about how to make their home a little bit more energy efficient, especially right now as we’re reminded that we really need those heaters,” said Gamaliel Ortiz, a spokesperson for SMUD.
The state also receives federal dollars for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. (LIHEAP.) It’s designed for low-income households and distributed through a local service provider. For more information, follow this link.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel