Southern California Edison (SCE) is offering an Arrearage Management Plan that can forgive up to $8,000 in past-due electric bills for eligible households. To qualify for debt forgiveness, customers must make 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments.
This program aims to assist customers struggling with high energy costs, a significant issue in California that has been highlighted in gubernatorial races. Residential electricity rates have seen substantial increases; SCE rates alone have risen approximately 83% between 2015 and 2025, according to the California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advocates Office. This has led to about one in five households served by investor-owned utilities in California falling behind on their electric bills.
To be eligible for SCE's Arrearage Management Plan, customers must be enrolled in either the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) discount programs. They also need to have been an SCE customer for at least six months, owe more than $500, and have made at least one payment in the past two years.
The program, initiated in 2021, had already enrolled 10,000 households by 2024. Similar debt relief and payment assistance programs are available from other utilities in the state, including Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). PG&E offers a Match My Payment Program that matches customer payments dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000, applied as a credit to past-due bills.
Energy bills in California have surged by 39% over the last six years, a higher increase than any other state. This rise is partly attributed to costs associated with wildfire mitigation efforts and policy decisions that have shifted expenses to rate payers. Utilities assert that these programs are part of their commitment to providing meaningful support to families facing financial challenges with daily expenses.