Lower Bills: Utility Discounts, a Cheaper Phone, and Postponing Property Taxes
What it is
Which discount you can get depends on who sends the bill. Here's the program for each LA-ring utility, plus phone and property-tax relief.
Electricity & gas
- SCE / SoCalGas customers (much of the LA ring): CARE = 30–35% off electric, 20% off gas, for households under the income line (1–2 people: $42,300/yr, 2025–26 table) or anyone on Medi-Cal, SSI, CalFresh and similar. Slightly over? FERA = 18% off electric. Apply through the utility: SCE (800) 655-4555 · SoCalGas (800) 427-2200.
- City of LA (LADWP): Senior/Disability Lifeline Rate (utility-tax and charge exemptions; via the LA Office of Finance, (844) 663-4411) and EZ-SAVE monthly help.
- Glendale (GWP): Glendale Care $35/month off electric, senior/disabled Utility-Users-Tax exemption, Guardian medical-equipment discount, Helping Hand one-time $150 help.
- Burbank (BWP): Lifeline = 45% off electric + no service charge or utility tax (seniors/disabled/life-support, income-qualified; recertify every 2 years). Don't qualify? BUSS = 14% off. (818) 238-3700.
- Pasadena (PWP): monthly bill assistance, Project APPLE one-time credit, medical-equipment discount, LIHEAP energy help. Low-income line (626) 744-6970.
Phone
California LifeLine discounts home or cell service for low-income households (one per household). Ask your phone company for "California LifeLine," or call (866) 272-0349.
Property taxes
The State Controller's Property Tax Postponement program lets homeowners who are 62+ (or blind, or have a disability) postpone the current year's property taxes if household income is ≤ $55,181 and they have at least 40% equity. Straight talk: it's a deferral, not a gift — the state places a lien and the taxes are repaid later (usually at sale). (800) 952-5661.
The honest part
BWP Lifeline: the program page carries an active "high demand, applications may be delayed" banner. Property Tax Postponement: limited funds and a hard filing window, Oct 1 – Feb 10 each year — file early.
How to start
Find your utility provider above and call the number listed — each program has its own short application.
Official sources
We describe programs; we don't make medical, legal, or insurance decisions for you. For Medicare choices, HICAP counselors advise you free: (800) 434-0222. For anything medical, talk with the doctor.