【ANN NEWS, LOS ANGELES】
Southern California residents may want to take a closer look when they open their latest electric bills — there could be some money taken off the total.
Southern California Edison（SCE）announced on August 26 that millions of residential customers will receive a total of $72 in California Climate Credits this summer. No application, paperwork or phone call to SCE is required. Eligible customers will receive the credit automatically.
According to information released by SCE, the $72 will not be issued all at once, but in two installments:
August: $36
September: $36
Two-month total: $72
Because each household has a different billing cycle, some customers may not see the credit on bills specifically labeled “August” or “September.” If it does not appear in August or September, SCE said the credit may show up during the next billing cycle.
Why Are Customers Suddenly Getting a $72 Credit?
The money is not a temporary SCE promotion, nor is it a $72 government check. It is part of California’s longstanding California Climate Credit program.
Funding for the program comes from California’s Cap-and-Invest emissions program. Greenhouse gas emitters, including power plants, fuel suppliers and large industrial facilities, are required to purchase emissions allowances, with a portion of the proceeds returned to consumers through credits on their electric and natural gas bills.
In the past, California residents typically received their electric Climate Credits in the spring and fall.
Beginning in 2026, however, the California Public Utilities Commission（CPUC）adjusted the timing of the credits.
The reason is simple — summer is when many California households face their highest electric bills.
In Southern California in particular, persistent high temperatures in July, August and September lead to increased air-conditioning use, driving up electricity bills for many households.
As a result, the CPUC decided to move residential electric Climate Credits for major utilities including SCE, PG&E and SDG&E to August and September, with the goal of directly reducing bills during the season when electricity consumption and costs are at their highest.
Who Can Get the $72?
For SCE residential customers, the biggest piece of good news is:
No application is required.
SCE said eligible residential customers will automatically receive the California Climate Credit.
That means there is no need to log onto a website to submit an application or provide proof of income.
Eligible customers simply need to check their SCE electric bills.
The bill may include a line item labeled:
“California Climate Credit”
If you see this item, it means the credit has already been applied directly to your current electric bill.
It is also worth noting that this is not a benefit limited to low-income households. The California Climate Credit is a bill credit generally available to eligible residential electricity customers and is separate from low-income utility assistance programs such as CARE.
Already Receiving a CARE Discount? You Can Still Get It
Yes.
SCE also offers electricity discounts for lower-income households through programs including California Alternate Rates for Energy（CARE）and Family Electric Rate Assistance（FERA）.
According to data released by SCE, nearly one-third of its residential customers currently receive related discounts, with eligible CARE customers receiving about a 32.5% discount on electric rates and FERA customers receiving about an 18% discount.
The California Climate Credit does not conflict with these programs.
Therefore, even customers already enrolled in CARE or FERA should still look for the California Climate Credit on their bills if they are eligible.
SCE Electricity Rates Have Also Declined This Year
In addition to the $72 Climate Credit, SCE said average electricity rates in 2026 have declined by about 4.3% so far compared with December 2025, with further reductions expected later this year.
SCE President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Powell said households and businesses are facing rising everyday costs, and expressed hope that the Climate Credit and lower electricity rates this year will help consumers reduce their energy expenses.
SCE currently provides electricity to about 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California through more than 4.5 million customer accounts.
What Do Southern California Residents Need to Do Now?
Actually, nothing.
If you are an SCE residential customer, simply check your August and September electric bills for:
California Climate Credit: -$36
One credit in August and another in September, for a total of $72.
If you do not see it that month, there is no need to worry. Because billing cycles vary by household, SCE said some customers may not see the credit until a subsequent bill.
As Southern California experiences summer heat and households increase their use of air conditioning, $72 may not be a huge amount, but it can at least make this summer’s electric bills a little lighter for many families.
