How it works

By contributing to EnergyHELP, 100% of your donation goes towards helping a qualified customer pay their electric bill.

Choose an amount
You determine the amount you give each month.

Select a charity
The charity partner connects with the recipient to pay their electric bill.

Feel good
Your donation is included on your SMUD bill. Thank you for helping a neighbor in need! 

Sign up for Energy HELP

Complete the form below to start helping your community.

Please enroll me in EnergyHELP

Select a charity. If no box is checked, your contributions will be assigned to one of the charities based on need.

 

 

One-time donation

Customers and non-customers alike can contribute by sending a check, cashier's check or money order to:

SMUD Agency Desk, MS A104
Attn: EnergyHELP
PO Box 15830
Sacramento, CA 95852

EAPR

If you’re looking for bill assistance, you may qualify
for our Energy Assistance Program Rate.

Learn more

Make our community brighter

 

58,000

households received assistance since 2004

100 %

of donations go to charity partners

14,500

SMUD customers contribute to EnergyHELP

 

 

Sac Food Bank Family              Folsom Cordova logo              LAO Family Comm Dev logo              Community Resource Project              Travelers Aid Emergency              The Salvation Army

 

100% of your tax-deductible contribution goes directly to the program
charity partner you choose.

Our partners help with food, clothing and career development.

 

Donate now

A recent recipient shared how EnergyHELP helped him during hard times:

“Please let everyone know I am very thankful. Thank you to all who donate and are part of this program.
I am a senior on a set income and with rent being so high, I barely have any money left.”

Learn more about EnergyHELP

Answers to common questions

What are the recipient eligibility requirements?

Those who are eligible are:

How are recipients selected?

  • A list of eligible recipients is generated systematically each morning.
  • From that list, and based on the amount of funds available, a subset of recipients are selected via a lottery system.
  • Starting at 8 AM Tuesday - Friday, the program team calls eligible recipients from the list until the available appointments are filled.

How many appointments are available?

The number of appointments vary based on the amount of donations collected. In 2021, 4,048 customers received assistance through EnergyHELP.

How are donations allocated?

Donors can choose either:

  • One of our six participating agency partners 
  • Or allow SMUD to choose which agency partner to apply donation

All donated funds are distributed to SMUD customers in need through six charities:

These organizations were chosen through a competitive bid process and meet SMUD's strict requirements for experience in efficiently serving people in need throughout the Sacramento area.

How is my donation money spent?

100% of your donations are used to pay the recipient’s energy bill. SMUD pays the participating EnergyHELP agency partners' administrative fees. 

What is the maximum commitment amount a recipient can receive?

Those eligible can receive up to $200 in a 12-month period.

What other services do the agency partners help with?

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Childcare
  • Job hunting
  • Job training
  • Housing
  • Translation services

Is there a digital payment option?

Currently there is not a digital payment option available. That option is under review.