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Passes our checks

Central Coast Energy Services Inc

EIN 65-1190535 · Watsonville, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CENTRAL COAST ENERGY SERVICES, INC. ("CCES") IS TO IMPROVE HOUSEHOLD SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. WE PROVIDE ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMER EDUCATION & ADVOCACY, HOME IMPROVEMENT, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, JOB TRAINING, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN NEED. WE PROMOTE AN ENVIRONMENT OF SAFETY, HARD WORK, TEAMWORK, AND HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.

Income
$14.6 million
Spending
$13.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
106
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$310,911, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $10.5 million spent. THE AGENCY IS A LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) SERVICE PROVIDER. THE AGENCY ASSISTS FAMILIES WITH STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES THAT LOWER AND HELP MANAGE ENERGY COSTS: PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR HOME ENERGY BILLS, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES DURING ENERGY CRISES, WEATHERIZATION, AND ENERGY-RELATED MINOR HOME REPAIRS. THE AGENCY ALSO PROVIDES SIMILAR WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS RESIDING IN THE SERVICE AREA UNDER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS.
  2. $562,872 spent. THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVTRAQ SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE TO OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE ALSO LIHEAP SERVICE PROVIDERS. SERVTRAQ IS AN APPLICATION SOFTWARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CALIFORNIA LOCAL ENERGY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO FACILITATE DATA MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING FOR THE LIHEAP, DOE, AND OTHER LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF SERVTRAQ IS TO PROVIDE DATA MANAGEMENT AND AUTOMATION IN CUSTOMER TRACKING, PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROCESSING, WEATHERIZATION JOB MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE CREW SCHEDULING, MATERIALS TRACKING, AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.
  3. $235,445 spent. THE AGENCY PROVIDES CONSULTING AND COMPLIANCE SERVICES THROUGH THE 831 CONSERVE CONTRACTOR SERVICE PROGRAM (831 CONSERVE). 831 CONSERVE'S MAIN SERVICE IS PROVIDING HOME ENERGY RATING SYSTEM (HERS) TESTING AND CALCULATIONS PERFORMED ON LOCATION, AS WELL AS RELATED CONSULTING. ONCE TESTING IS COMPLETED, THE AGENCY PROVIDES CERTIFICATION OF THE RESULTS AS EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY SERVICES NONRESIDENTIAL PROJECTS WITH DUCT LEAKAGE, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS TESTING. THE AGENCY ALSO PROVIDES WHOLE HOUSE RATING AND HOME PERFORMANCE TESTING AND CERTIFICATIONS TO VARIOUS CUSTOMERS.
  4. $395,723 spent. THE AGENCY ADMINISTERS THE PORTABLE BATTERY PILOT PROGRAM FOR PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC (PG&E) COMPANY TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DURING PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS. A PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF, ALSO CALLED A PSPS, OCCURS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PG&E TURNS OFF POWER TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES. THE AGENCY PROVIDES SOLAR BATTERIES TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO POWER LIFE SUSTAINING DEVICES DURING A PSPS EVENT. THE AGENCY CONTRACTED WITH PG&E TO SUPPORT MARKETING, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS TARGETING "HARD TO REACH" POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION ACROSS THE SERVICE AREA. SPECIFICALLY, THE AGENCY PERFORMS MARKETING AND OUTREACH FOR THE CALIFORNIA ALTERNATE RATES AND ENERGY (CARE), FAMILY ELECTRIC RATE ASSISTANCE (FERA), AND OTHER ENERGY SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.