Community · Standalone Initiative
UTILITY
AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAM
A targeted utility assistance program for income-qualified Turlock residents — leveraging existing eligibility determinations from state and utility providers so that residents approved through PG&E CARE or equivalent TID programs automatically qualify for reduced city utility charges. No duplicative applications. No bureaucratic barriers.
Independent framework. Designed to improve housing stability for low- and moderate-income households independent of broader economic development revenues.
Funding Principle
Utility affordability improvements are funded through rate structure reform, operational efficiency gains, and state and federal utility assistance programs — not new taxes. The goal is to reduce costs for residents by running utility systems more efficiently and ensuring available assistance reaches those who need it.
Program Framework
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
WHO IT SERVES
The program is designed for low- and moderate-income Turlock residents — with a streamlined eligibility pathway that leverages existing determinations from state and utility providers. If a resident is already approved through PG&E CARE, an equivalent Turlock Irrigation District (TID) program, or comparable state assistance, they automatically qualify. No duplicative paperwork. No redundant bureaucracy.
Key Elements
Income-qualified residents already enrolled in PG&E CARE or equivalent TID programs
Low- and moderate-income households across Turlock
Seniors and fixed-income residents on existing assistance programs
Working families approved through state utility affordability frameworks
HOW IT WORKS
Residents approved through existing state and utility provider programs — such as PG&E CARE or equivalent TID affordability programs — automatically qualify for reduced city utility charges. The city leverages those existing eligibility determinations rather than creating a separate application process, ensuring streamlined access without duplicative administrative burden.
Key Elements
Automatic qualification based on existing CARE or TID program approval
Reduced city utility charges applied directly to qualifying accounts
No separate city application required for already-enrolled residents
Coordinated with PG&E and Turlock Irrigation District for seamless delivery
HOW IT'S FUNDED
The Utility Affordability Program is designed to operate independently of broader economic development revenues — ensuring it delivers for residents regardless of how quickly Horizon projects materialize.
Key Elements
Standalone program budget — not contingent on Horizon District revenues
Alignment with existing state and utility assistance funding frameworks
Independent of broader economic development timelines
PROGRAM INDEPENDENCE & HOUSING STABILITY
A core principle of this initiative is that utility affordability cannot wait for economic development to catch up. By establishing the program outside the Dividend framework with its own policy foundation and funding pathway, it improves housing stability for low- and moderate-income households on its own terms — and is strengthened, not defined, by Dividend contributions over time.
Key Elements
Independent policy framework — not contingent on Dividend performance
Designed to improve housing stability for low- and moderate-income households
Dedicated program governance and annual City Council reporting
Scalable as state program alignment expands
The Neglect Tax
THE COST OF BEING LEFT BEHIND
Rising utility costs are not felt equally. The residents who have lived in Turlock the longest — who built this community, raised families here, and stayed through every economic cycle — often bear the heaviest burden. Jeremy calls this the "Neglect Tax": the cumulative cost of deferred investment in the people and neighborhoods that made Turlock what it is.
LONG-TERM RESIDENTS
Homeowners and renters who have lived in Turlock for decades often live in older housing stock with higher energy consumption — and fewer resources to upgrade it.
SENIORS & FIXED-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
Residents on fixed incomes have no ability to absorb rate increases. A $30/month utility increase can mean choosing between bills and groceries.
WORKING FAMILIES
Dual-income households stretched thin by housing costs, childcare, and transportation have little margin for rising utility bills — even when they earn too much to qualify for existing assistance programs.
Implementation
FROM DAY ONE
First 180 Days
Identify all Turlock residents currently enrolled in PG&E CARE, TID affordability programs, and equivalent state utility assistance frameworks. Assess the gap between eligible residents and those currently enrolled. Begin coordination with PG&E and TID to establish the automatic qualification pathway for reduced city utility charges.
Year One
Launch the Utility Affordability Program — applying reduced city utility charges automatically to accounts of residents already approved through CARE or equivalent TID programs. Conduct outreach to increase enrollment among eligible but unenrolled residents. Establish program governance and City Council reporting structure.
Year Two
Evaluate program reach and identify gaps in coverage. Expand outreach to low- and moderate-income households not yet connected to qualifying state programs.
Ongoing
Annual program review and public reporting to City Council on households served and cost burden reduction. Program scaled in coordination with state and utility provider program changes.
RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT TURLOCK
Support the campaign and help deliver real utility relief to Turlock residents.