Low-Income Solar in California: DAC-SASH, SASH, CARE, and FERA Programs

California has built one of the most comprehensive sets of low-income energy assistance programs in the country. For qualifying households, these programs combine to make solar dramatically more affordable — and in some cases fully subsidized. This guide walks through the four main California programs that lower-income homeowners should know about: DAC-SASH, SASH, CARE, and FERA. Each targets a different part of the affordability problem, and the eligibility rules differ.

DAC-SASH: Essentially Free Solar for Qualifying Households

DAC-SASH stands for "Disadvantaged Communities — Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes." It is California's headline solar equity program and the strongest low-income solar benefit available in the state. For qualifying households, DAC-SASH provides a residential solar system at no cost — the installation, equipment, and interconnection are fully subsidized by the program.

To qualify for DAC-SASH, a household typically must:

• •Own and live in a single-family home in a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) as designated by CalEnviroScreen (generally, census tracts in the top 25% for pollution burden and socioeconomic vulnerability).
• •Be a PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E customer.
• •Meet low-income qualifications — typically household income at or below 80% of area median income, OR participation in another qualified income program (CARE, FERA, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, etc.).
• •Have a suitable roof for solar installation (south/west facing, minimal shade, structurally sound).

DAC-SASH is administered by GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit partner of the CPUC. Applications are taken on a rolling basis subject to program funding. Wait times vary but qualified households typically receive installations within 6-18 months of application depending on region and program capacity.

SASH: The Broader Single-Family Affordable Solar Program

SASH — Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes — is the broader statewide program that DAC-SASH is a subset of. SASH provides solar for low-income homeowners across California who meet the income qualifications but aren't necessarily in a designated Disadvantaged Community. The subsidy is substantial — covering a major portion of the system cost — but not always 100% like DAC-SASH.

SASH eligibility is similar to DAC-SASH on income and ownership requirements but doesn't require the DAC census-tract designation. It's administered by GRID Alternatives and also operates on a waiting-list basis subject to program funding.

CARE: California Alternate Rates for Energy (Utility Bill Discount)

CARE is not a solar program — it's a utility rate discount that reduces electric bills by approximately 30-35% for qualifying low-income households. It's relevant to solar shoppers because CARE enrollment often qualifies you for DAC-SASH and SASH automatically, and because CARE rates change the math on whether solar makes financial sense compared to staying on the utility.

CARE eligibility is based on household income:

• •1-2 person household: up to $40,880/year (2025 guidelines — check current year)
• •3 person household: up to $51,640/year
• •4 person household: up to $62,400/year
• •Each additional person: add ~$10,760/year

Alternatively, participation in certain public assistance programs (CalFresh/SNAP, Medi-Cal, SSI, WIC, etc.) automatically qualifies a household for CARE. You apply through your utility's website — PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E all have CARE enrollment portals.

FERA: Family Electric Rate Assistance (Smaller Discount)

FERA is CARE's sibling program for households that earn too much to qualify for CARE but still face energy cost burden. The discount is smaller — typically around 12% off the electric bill — and income eligibility runs from the CARE upper limit to roughly 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.

FERA is specifically for households with 3 or more people (FERA is designed for larger families just above CARE eligibility). 1-2 person households aren't eligible. Apply through your utility's bill assistance page.

How the Programs Interact

Here's the useful part: these programs stack together to create a much better outcome than any one alone. A typical low-income California household might:

1. Enroll in CARE through their utility, getting a 30-35% discount on their monthly electric bill. This alone saves roughly $50-$80 per month for most households.

2. Apply for DAC-SASH or SASH through GRID Alternatives. If approved (and the applicant is in a DAC census tract), solar is installed at no or very low cost. CARE participation usually auto-qualifies the applicant on the income side.

3. Keep the CARE discount on the remaining utility portion of the bill (anything not offset by solar).

A household that started paying $250/month for electricity can end up paying roughly $30-$60 per month after CARE + DAC-SASH solar. The math is genuinely transformative for qualifying households.

What If You Don't Qualify for DAC-SASH or SASH?

Most California households don't qualify for DAC-SASH or SASH — they target the lowest income tier. If your income is above those thresholds but you still find your utility bill painful, the standard options are still available: cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease, or a power purchase agreement (PPA). See our PPA vs Loan vs Lease vs Cash comparison for the breakdown.

The California Rate Relief Program is a PPA — $0 down, fixed monthly rate below your current utility bill. It's designed for credit-worthy California homeowners who want solar without the upfront capital outlay. Most homeowners with a $150+ monthly utility bill and a credit score above 650 qualify.

How to Apply

CARE: apply online through your utility — PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, or smaller municipal utilities all have CARE enrollment pages. Takes about 10 minutes. Documentation of income or eligible program participation required.

FERA: also through your utility. Same process as CARE, just different income tier.

DAC-SASH / SASH: apply through GRID Alternatives at gridalternatives.org. Wait times vary; program funding is appropriated periodically and applications are processed in order.

Standard solar (PPA, loan, lease, or cash): for households above the low-income program thresholds, start with two or three quotes from reputable California installers and compare apples-to-apples.