Bill & Payment Assistance
Get help lowering or catching up on bills.
Orange County Power Authority is here to support you. Several programs are available to help reduce your monthly energy bill, get caught up on late payments, and lower your energy usage.
If you are already signed up for one of the discount programs below through SCE, you will remain enrolled and do not need to reapply when you become an OCPA customer. You may view more information on your eligibility through the SCE’s Residential Assistance page.
FERA & CARE Discount Programs
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) and California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) programs administered by SCE provide discounts of up to 18-30% on energy bills for income-qualified customers. If you have recent changes in your finances or lost your job, even if receiving unemployment benefits, you may be eligible for a reduced energy rate through the CARE and FERA programs. To learn more about FERA & CARE Discount Programs, click here.
Arrearage Management Plan (AMP)
Customers enrolled in CARE or FERA with past-due bills at least 90 days old totaling $500 or more, and who has been a customer of OCPA or SCE for at least six months and made an on-time payment within the last 24 months, may be forgiven one-twelfth (1/12) of their eligible past-due amounts in exchange for on-time payment of the current monthly bill. To learn more about Arrearage Management Plan (AMP), click here.
Payment Arrangement
SCE’s Payment Arrangement option offers flexible payment plans to spread balance out, up to 12 months or choose an extension allowing full payment later. This allows you to schedule payment of your current balance over several months to help manage temporary financial strains. To enroll, sign in to your SCE account and click on “Bill Help” or call SCE Billing Support at 1-800-950-2356.
Medical Baseline Allowance
Medical Baseline Allowance is an assistance program for residential customers who depend on power for certain medical and independent living needs. This program provides an additional 16.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day. Provided at the lowest baseline rate, this helps offset the cost of operating the medical equipment. To learn more about Medical Baseline Allowance, click here.
Bill Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that offers utility bill payment assistance, energy education, and free home weatherization/rehabilitation services in the state of California. To learn more about Bill Assistance, click here.