California’s 2025 Electricity Bill Refunds: One massive step towards the relief role from increasing energy costs, California is distributing energy rebates to millions of households free of charge this October. According to governor Gavin Newsom’s announcements, through the state’s Climate Credit program, more than 11.5 million residents will get automatic refunds, over $760 million in total, money that the program estimates over $700 million for residential customers and $60 million for small businesses.
In fact, The California Climate Credit is part of the state’s Cap-and-Trade program, which aims to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by requiring large emitters to buy allowances for the pollution they emit. The money coming from this program is then shared with the state’s residents and businesses in the form of bill credits. Usually, these credits are issued two times per year, so the next ones are expected in April and October. Furthermore, credits are automatically allocated for eligible customers’ electricity and natural gas bills.
California’s 2025 Electricity Bill Refunds: How Much Will You Receive?
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E): $58.23 for electricity customers; an additional $67.03 for natural gas customers, i.e., $125.26 for those with both services.
- Southern California Edison (SCE): $56.00
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E): $81.38
- Bear Valley Electric Service: $34.91
- Liberty Utilities: $63.71
- Pacific Power: $259.36
You will be able to view these credits on your October bill, either under the “California Climate Credit” or “CA Climate Credit” line item.
Are You Eligible for California’s 2025 Electricity Bill Refunds?
The main factor for qualifying for the Climate Credit is having an active electricity account at a participating utility provider. The vast majority of residential customers will get the credit automatically without doing anything. However, if you are part of either the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs, then you qualify for the credit as well, and it will be automatically applied to you.
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Additional Benefits
The Credit program is the state’s broader environmental program, apart from the in-hand economic relief. Over $14.6 billion in bill refunds has been distributed since the program’s inception in 2014, with the program being an entirely responsible actor in the state’s ambition to go green.
What Should You Do Next?
As a Californian, if you have an electric account that is currently running, the best thing you could do is, look for the Climate Credit in your October utility bill. If you can’t find it or you have some queries for which you need answers, contact your utility provider directly. Also, the website of the California Public Utilities Commission Climate Credit might be helpful.
