If your refrigerator is old, loud, or barely keeping food cold, California has a program that will replace it — along with your furnace, water heater, attic insulation, weatherstripping, and more — at no cost, if you qualify. It’s called the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA), and it’s funded by utility ratepayers and regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
For many IHSS families, qualifying is easier than it looks. If anyone in your household is enrolled in Medi-Cal — and virtually every IHSS recipient is, since Medi-Cal is what pays for IHSS services — you likely qualify without submitting a single pay stub. Here’s how the program actually works, what it takes to get a refrigerator specifically, and where the details vary by utility.
ESA at a glance
- Free refrigerators, furnaces, insulation & more
- Qualify by income OR by program enrollment
- Medi-Cal enrollment usually skips the paperwork
- Renters welcome — landlord sign-off needed for the fridge
What ESA Actually Covers
ESA is a statewide program administered by your gas and/or electric utility — PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), and several smaller utilities — under rules set by the CPUC. Every version of the program includes:
- Energy-efficient refrigerators
- Energy-efficient furnaces
- Attic insulation
- Weatherstripping and caulking
- Water heater blankets
- Low-flow showerheads
Depending on your utility and where you live, ESA may also cover clothes washers, dishwashers, smart thermostats, central air conditioning or heat pump replacement, pool pumps, and minor home repairs needed to install these measures. Not every utility offers every measure.
SoCalGas is a natural-gas-only utility, so its version of ESA covers furnaces, water heaters, and weatherization — not refrigerators. Refrigerator replacement comes from the electric utility serving your home: PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E. If SoCalGas is your gas company but a different utility supplies your electricity, apply through the electric utility for the fridge.
Two Ways to Qualify
You can qualify either by household income or by already being enrolled in certain public assistance programs — and the second path skips the income paperwork entirely.
Option 1: Household income
Effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, the maximum annual household income is:
Effective June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 (250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines)
| Household size | Maximum annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 |
| 2 | $54,100 |
| 3 | $68,300 |
| 4 | $82,500 |
| 5 | $96,700 |
| 6 | $110,900 |
| 7 | $125,100 |
| 8 | $139,300 |
| Each additional person | +$14,200 |
Option 2: Categorical eligibility
If you or anyone in your household currently participates in one of these programs, you can qualify without proving income at all — you just need to show current proof of enrollment:
Qualifying programs (any one qualifies your household)
- Medi-Cal / Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- CalFresh (SNAP)
- CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF
- LIHEAP
- WIC
- National School Lunch Program
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
IHSS itself isn't on the qualifying-program list — but Medi-Cal is, and Medi-Cal is what funds IHSS. If you or a family member receives IHSS, you're almost certainly already enrolled in Medi-Cal, which means you likely qualify for ESA through categorical eligibility. You'll still need to show proof of that enrollment — a Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) or a current award letter — but you won't have to gather pay stubs or tax returns.
What It Takes to Get the Refrigerator, Specifically
- Your existing refrigerator has to be a working unit. The program replaces inefficient appliances, not broken ones — if yours has already died, ESA’s refrigerator-replacement rules don’t apply to buying you a new one in its place.
- How old the refrigerator (and your home) needs to be varies by utility. PG&E requires the refrigerator to be at least 15 years old and the home to be at least 5 years old. Other utilities assess age and condition case by case during the in-home visit — ask your utility for its specific standard rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
- Self-certifying your income isn’t enough for a refrigerator. Because installing one involves electrical work the program calls a “modification that includes grounding,” you need either real income documentation or proof of categorical eligibility. Self-certification alone only unlocks smaller “basic” measures like LED bulbs and showerheads.
- If you rent, your landlord has to sign off — specifically for the refrigerator. Basic weatherization measures don’t need property owner approval, but a refrigerator, air conditioner, or smart thermostat does, for the same electrical-work reason. Once signed, the authorization is good for 24 months.
- If you have two failing refrigerators, both may qualify. The program allows replacement of up to two units per household.
- It’s normally free either way. Refrigerator replacement is provided at no charge to the tenant or the property owner — with one exception: if your landlord owns the refrigerator and pays the utility bill directly, the utility may charge the landlord a co-payment.
How to Apply
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Southern California Edison (SCE)
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
Southern California Gas (SoCalGas)
| Utility | Covers a fridge? | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| PG&E | Yes | 1-800-933-9555 |
| SCE | Yes | 1-800-736-4777 |
| SDG&E | Yes (ESA Basic Plus) | 1-619-387-4757 |
| SoCalGas | No — gas-only | 1-800-331-7593 |
The process is roughly the same everywhere: submit an application or interest form online or by phone, the utility verifies your eligibility, an authorized contractor schedules an in-home visit to assess what your home qualifies for, the contractor installs the approved measures, and — for some measures, like furnaces and attic insulation — an inspector may follow up to confirm the work meets program standards.
Don't Confuse ESA with CARE
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) is a separate program that gives an ongoing 30–35% discount on your electric bill and about 20% off your gas bill — it doesn’t replace appliances. ESA and CARE share the same list of qualifying programs and income limits, and most ESA applicants are automatically considered for CARE too, but they’re two different benefits. If you only want the bill discount, you can apply for CARE alone through your utility.
Every legitimate ESA contractor carries a photo ID badge with the program logo, their name, an ID number, and an expiration date — front and back. If someone shows up claiming to represent ESA, call your utility's number directly (the one printed on your bill, not a number the visitor gives you) to confirm they're authorized. Real ESA services are free to qualified households — no contractor should ask you to pay for anything the program covers, or try to sell you additional services.
Read more
More guides from IHSS Connect
- If You Get IHSS, You Probably Qualify for CARE: How to Cut Your SCE and SoCalGas Bills
- How to Apply for Medi-Cal in California: A 2026 Guide
- What Is IHSS? California's In-Home Supportive Services Program Explained
- What Does IHSS Cover? Complete List of Approved Services
- How to Get More IHSS Hours: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Appeal an IHSS Decision in California: 5 Different Ways
Sources
Sources
- CPUC — Energy Savings Assistance — program overview, covered services, current income table, utility contacts
- CPUC — Statewide ESA Program Policy & Procedures Manual v1.6 — categorical eligibility, self-certification limits, refrigerator and rental-unit rules
- PG&E — Energy Savings Assistance Program — refrigerator/home age requirements, application steps
- Southern California Edison — Energy Savings Assistance Program — eligibility criteria, services offered
- SDG&E — No Cost Energy-Efficient Home Improvements — ESA Basic vs. Basic Plus tiers, landlord co-pay
- SoCalGas — Energy Savings Assistance Program — confirms no refrigerator coverage, contractor ID verification
- California CSD — LIHEAP — context on ESA's relationship to the federal LIHEAP program
The CPUC-approved Statewide ESA Program Policy and Procedures Manual is the primary authority throughout. Where a utility's own page states a more specific requirement, that utility-specific rule applies to its own customers.
About This Article
IHSS Connect publishes this article for general information and education. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. IHSS Connect is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the California Public Utilities Commission, the utilities named above, or any county agency.
Program rules, dollar amounts, and appliance-age requirements change — sometimes with little notice, and they can vary by utility. Only your utility can decide what your household is eligible for under the Energy Savings Assistance Program.
If you believe a decision on your application is wrong, or you run into a contractor you can’t verify, contact:
- Your utility’s customer service line (see the table above)
- CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch: 1-800-649-7570 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
- Free and low-cost legal help: LawHelpCA.org
Figures reflect the ESA income guidelines effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. Verified September 2026.
