Would a discount help?

The Rate Assistance Program (RAP) provides a 25-40% discount off the electric portion of the Municipal Utilities bill to qualified Santa Clara residents. Residents can qualify for the RAP discount by meeting either the financial or medical criteria below. See Financial Criteria.

Silicon Valley Power partners with Central Coast Energy Services to process Financial Rate Assistance Program applications.

• Apply for Financial RAP
• Medical Criteria
• Apply for Medical RAP
• California Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

When you apply for Financial RAP, qualifying electric customers will also receive a:

• $10.00 discount on garbage collection charges
  • To qualify, homes cannot share garbage service with another home (e.g. multi-family complex shared dumpsters).
  • Customers who were previously receiving the rate assistance discount on their garbage rate and not enrolled in Financial RAP must submit an application and provide income verification.
• 25% discount on water/sewer bills
  • Water discount is for the first 12 hundred cubic feet (HCF) of usage
  • Sewer bills will be discounted 25% of the flat residential rate

Financial Criteria

Santa Clara residents whose combined gross household income is within the limits set forth in the table below qualify for the Rate Assistance Program. Proof of income is required. The discount only applies to the first 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) of monthly energy use.

Effective January 2023, discount rates increase as follows:

• Income qualified customers receive a 35% discount off the first 300 kWh and a 25% discount on 301 – 800 kWh
• Customers who meet the LIHEAP income requirements will receive a 40% discount off the first 300 kWh and a 25% discount on 301 – 800 kWh.
• Customers in a Section 8 multifamily housing complex where no income verification is required through our program will receive the discount of 35% discount off the first 300 kWh and a 25% discount on 301 – 800 kWh

 To apply for the Financial RAP discount:

F.R.A.P.
c/o Central Coast Energy Services
P.O. Box 2707
Watsonville, CA 95077

• Financial Rate Assistance Program Application (English)
• Financial Rate Assistance Program Application (Spanish)
• Apply online for Financial Rate Assistance Program

For more information, contact Central Coast Energy Services at 1-888-399-2728.

Medical Criteria

Residents who have a medical condition and/or are disabled must provide a physician's certification documenting the patient's medical needs and requirements for an electric device for treatment. Paraplegic, hemiplegic, or quadriplegic people qualify. Similarly, a scleroderma patient with special heating or cooling needs qualifies, as do residents who depend on life support.

To apply for the Medical RAP discount:

City of Santa Clara
Municipal Services Division
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050; or
Fax: 408-260-3873

Download all Medical Rate Assistance files in one PDF: 

• Medical Rate Assistance Information Sheet, Application, and Doctor's Certification Form

Download individual Medical Rate Assistance files:

• Medical Rate Assistance Information Sheet
• Medical Rate Assistance Program Application
• Doctor's Certification

The discount will not apply toward any taxes, surcharges, or other non-electric utility charges that appear on the bill. Applicants who meet both the financial and medical eligibility criteria must select which program provides the most benefit for their circumstances. The Medical Rate Assistance Program provides a 25% percent discount with no cap on the usage.

For more information, email utilitybilling@santaclaraca.gov or call 408-615-2300. 

California Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

For an application, or more information, please call HEAP at 1-877-278-6455 and leave a message with your mailing address, or drop by the City of Santa Clara Municipal Services office. More information on HEAP.

Previous recipients of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are encouraged to reapply if they still qualify.