Your Utility May Pay Up to $7,500 Toward Solar + Battery. Here's What You Qualify For.
PG&E pays $7,500 toward a home battery for qualifying homes. SMUD pays up to $6,000, and Clean Power Alliance pays up to $3,500. There's also a statewide prepaid discount on solar and batteries. See which ones apply to your address in about 2 minutes.
Which California solar incentives can you still get?
What solar incentives are available in California?
Utility battery rebates lead the list. PG&E pays $7,500 for qualifying homes, SMUD up to $6,000, and Clean Power Alliance up to $3,500. A statewide prepaid discount is also available.
What is the solar rebate in California?
It depends on your utility. Most California rebates today pay toward a home battery, not the panels. Your address decides which rebates you qualify for and how much you get.
Who is the best solar company near me for California rebates?
Solar With Watts installs solar and batteries statewide under CSLB license number 1065773, and helps homeowners with rebate paperwork for PG&E, SMUD and Clean Power Alliance.
Rebate amounts are set by each utility and can change as funds run out. See the PG&E $7,500 rebate and Clean Power Alliance rebate guides for eligibility details.
What California solar incentives are still available?
California's biggest solar incentives today are utility battery rebates and a statewide prepaid discount. PG&E pays $7,500 toward a battery for qualifying homes. SMUD pays up to $6,000, and Clean Power Alliance pays up to $3,500.
Which ones you get depends on your utility and your address. Most of today's money pays toward a home battery, not the panels. That's because batteries are what keep homes running during shutoffs and peak-rate evenings.
PG&E: $7,500 toward a home battery
PG&E's Permanent Battery Storage Rebate is for homes that have had five or more Wildfire Safety outages since January 1, 2024. According to PG&E, about 141 rebates remained as of October 16, 2026. See our PG&E battery rebate guide to check your address.
SMUD: up to $6,000 per household
SMUD pays $300 per kWh of battery storage, up to $6,000 per household, for new projects. You enroll within 90 days of permission to operate, on SMUD's Solar and Storage Rate. Tesla battery owners also earn quarterly payments.
Clean Power Alliance: up to $3,500
Clean Power Alliance customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties can get up to $3,500 when they add a battery to new or existing solar, per Clean Power Alliance. See our Clean Power Alliance rebate guide for the full breakdown.
Statewide: the Maxwell Power prepaid discount
The Maxwell Power prepaid plan takes a large discount off solar and batteries upfront, in every utility territory. Maxwell Power owns and maintains the system for 6 years, then ownership transfers to you at no extra cost. Homes in an energy community get an additional discount.
Two deadlines worth knowing
PG&E battery rebate: applications are due by December 31, 2026, or 12 months after permission to operate, whichever comes first. Funding runs out sooner if the rebates are claimed. PG&E says funding refreshes next year.
Solar property tax exclusion: California's rule that keeps solar from raising your property taxes covers systems completed by December 31, 2026, according to EnergySage. "Completed" means permission to operate from your utility, not just installed.
The table below shows what's live, what's closed, and what each program is worth in your utility territory.
Which California solar and battery incentives are live right now?
What's open, what's closed, and what each program is worth, by utility
| Program | Status | Value | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home battery rebates (permanent batteries) | |||
| PG&E Permanent Battery Storage Rebate | Active · limited | $7,500 | PG&E customers with 5+ Wildfire Safety outages since January 1, 2024. About 141 rebates left as of October 16. Apply by December 31, 2026, or 12 months after permission to operate. |
| SMUD Battery Rebate | Active | $300/kWh, up to $6,000 | SMUD customers on the Solar and Storage Rate. Enroll within 90 days of permission to operate. |
| SMUD quarterly battery payments | Active | $110–$330 per quarter | Enrolled Tesla Powerwall owners: $110 for 1 battery, $220 for 2, $330 for 3 or more. |
| Clean Power Alliance Sun Storage Rebate | Active · first-come | Up to $3,500 | Clean Power Alliance customers in LA and Ventura counties adding a battery to new or existing solar. |
| SGIP Battery Rebate | Closed | Not available to most homeowners | General budgets are closed. Only a limited equity waitlist remains for specific low-income households. |
| Discounts & financing | |||
| Maxwell Power prepaid discount | Available statewide | Large upfront discount | Homeowners in every utility territory. Homes in an energy community get an additional discount. |
| PACE financing | Available | $0 down, repaid through your property tax bill | Homeowners who don't qualify for other financing. Availability varies by city and county. Not the lowest-cost option. |
| Solar property tax exclusion | Ends after 2026 | Solar doesn't raise your property taxes | Solar systems completed, with permission to operate, by December 31, 2026. |
| Portable battery rebates (outage backup) | |||
| PG&E portable battery rebate | Active | $300 ($500 with CARE/FERA) | PG&E customers in high fire-threat areas or on EPSS circuits. Apply within 12 months of purchase or by December 31, 2026. |
| SCE portable power station rebate | Active | Rebate per qualifying power station, up to 5 per address | SCE residential customers on circuits that may be affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs. |
| How solar is credited | |||
| Net billing (NEM 3.0) | Active | Export credits worth far less than the retail rate | New PG&E, SCE and SDG&E solar customers. This is why pairing solar with a battery matters. |
Sources: PG&E Permanent Battery Storage Rebate, SMUD battery program, Clean Power Alliance Sun Storage Rebate, CPUC SGIP, and EnergySage on the property tax exclusion. Rebate amounts are set by each utility, can change as funds run out, and depend on your address. † See what these do to your battery cost in the Powerwall Calculator.
Which solar incentives does your utility offer?
Where you live decides which programs apply to your home. Find your utility below.
PG&E
Up to $7,500
PG&E pays $7,500 toward a home battery if your address has had five or more Wildfire Safety outages since January 1, 2024. Rebates are limited and first-come, first-served.
Homes in high fire-threat areas can also get $300 toward a portable battery, or $500 with CARE or FERA. New solar is on net billing, where exported power earns far less than you pay. That's why a battery matters here.
PG&E $7,500 rebate · Portable battery rebate · Stockton · Fresno · Bakersfield
SCE
Portable rebates
SCE offers rebates on portable power stations for homes on circuits that may be affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs, up to five per address.
SCE doesn't pay a utility rebate on permanent home batteries. If Clean Power Alliance supplies your power, that changes (see the next card). New solar is on SCE's Solar Billing Plan, where export credits change by time of day.
Clean Power Alliance
Up to $3,500
Clean Power Alliance pays up to $3,500 when you add a battery to new or existing solar. It serves 36 cities plus unincorporated Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with SCE delivering the power.
Every eligible customer gets $2,000. Homes in frequent shutoff areas add $1,250, and Medical Baseline, CARE or FERA customers add $250. Check your SCE bill for Clean Power Alliance charges.
SMUD
Up to $6,000
SMUD pays $300 per kWh of battery storage, up to $6,000 per household, for new projects. You enroll within 90 days of permission to operate, on SMUD's Solar and Storage Rate.
Tesla Powerwall owners also earn quarterly payments: $110 for one battery, $220 for two, and $330 for three or more. SMUD keeps a 20% reserve in your battery for outages during grid events.
SDG&E
Peak-rate savings
SDG&E doesn't offer a utility battery rebate right now. The savings come from avoiding its 4 to 9 p.m. peak rates. A battery charged by your solar covers those evening hours instead of the grid.
New solar is on net billing, so storing your own power is worth more than sending it back. The statewide prepaid discount applies here too.
LADWP
Near-retail credits
LADWP still credits exported solar at or near the full retail rate, per Solar.com. That makes solar alone a strong fit here. LADWP doesn't offer a general battery rebate, so a battery is mainly for outage backup.
Income-qualified homes may fit LADWP's Solar Rooftops program, where LADWP owns the panels and pays you an annual lease check. Book a free call for your LADWP numbers.
Sources: PG&E, SMUD, Clean Power Alliance, Solar.com on LADWP. Amounts are set by each utility and can change. † Run your numbers in the Powerwall Calculator.
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How can you pay for solar and batteries in California?
Most homeowners we work with choose the Maxwell Power prepaid plan. It takes a large discount off upfront, and you pay the rest at signing with cash or a fixed-rate loan. Here's how it compares with the other ways to pay.
Maxwell Power Prepaid Plan
- Large discount off solar and batteries upfront
- Extra discount for homes in an energy community
- Maxwell Power owns, insures, monitors and maintains it for 6 years
- Ownership transfers to you at no extra cost after year 6
- Pay with cash, or finance through Travis Credit Union or Credit Human
- Still qualifies for PG&E's $7,500 battery rebate
If you sell your home before year 6, the buyer takes over the agreement. See how the prepaid plan works →
Travis Credit Union & Credit Human
Unsecured, fixed-rate loans that pay for your prepaid plan or a purchase at signing. Travis Credit Union is our preferred lender, with Credit Human as the alternate. Your rate and monthly payment show in your proposal.
GoGreen Financing
A California loan program run through CAEATFA for energy upgrades, offered through participating lenders. A good fit for homeowners who qualify and want to own their system outright from day one.
Power Purchase Agreement (LightReach)
No upfront cost. You pay a monthly rate for the power and never own the system. Because you don't own it, a power purchase agreement doesn't qualify for PG&E's or SMUD's battery rebates. LightReach details →
PACE Financing
Repaid through your property tax bill, with no credit score check. It's a fallback for homeowners who don't qualify for a standard loan, and usually not the lowest-cost path if you do. Availability varies by city and county. PACE details →
Approval, rates and terms depend on the lender and your credit. Rebate eligibility depends on your utility and address.
Is the SGIP battery rebate still available in California?
General funding ended December 31, 2025. Only a waitlisted income-qualified track remains.
No, not for most homeowners. The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) was California's original battery rebate, run through PG&E, SCE and SDG&E. Its general funding closed on December 31, 2025.
What's left is narrow. New applications are limited to the Residential Solar and Storage Equity track, which is for specific low-income households. Most of that money is already reserved, so new applications go on a waitlist.
The good news: SGIP is no longer the main way to cut your battery cost. Utility rebates and the prepaid discount have taken its place.
What's live instead
- PG&E: $7,500 toward a battery for qualifying homes
- SMUD: up to $6,000 per household
- Clean Power Alliance: up to $3,500 in LA and Ventura counties
- Maxwell Power prepaid plan: a large upfront discount, statewide
Want the program history? Read our SGIP explainer.
How much does SMUD pay toward a home battery?
SMUD pays $300 per kWh of battery storage, up to $6,000 per household. Tesla Powerwall owners also earn quarterly payments for as long as the battery stays enrolled.
One-time enrollment rebate
$300 per kWh, up to $6,000 per household. Under SMUD's rebate formula, one Powerwall 3 comes to about $3,240, and two Powerwalls reach the $6,000 cap.
Quarterly battery payments (Tesla only)
$110 a quarter for one battery, $220 for two, or $330 for three or more. SMUD keeps at least 20% of your battery in reserve for outages during grid events.
The rules that unlock both
Be on SMUD's Solar and Storage Rate, and enroll within 90 days after SMUD grants permission to operate. MED Rate customers and individual rental units aren't eligible.
Example: 2 Tesla Powerwall 3 batteries
Source: SMUD battery storage program. The $300 per kWh rate applies to new interconnection applications. Eligible brands include Eguana, Enphase, Franklin, SolarEdge, Sonnen and Tesla; quarterly payments are Tesla only for now. Amounts can change, so confirm current terms before signing.
Is solar still worth it in California? Answers to the 4 biggest concerns
? "Didn't NEM 3.0 kill solar savings?"
It changed the math for solar on its own. Under NEM 3.0, power you send back to the grid earns far less than you pay for it. So the savings now come from using your own power. Pair solar with a battery and you store daytime energy for the expensive evening hours instead of selling it cheap.
? "Aren't batteries too expensive?"
Utility rebates now cover a real share of the cost. PG&E pays $7,500 for qualifying homes, SMUD pays up to $6,000, and Clean Power Alliance pays up to $3,500. The Maxwell Power prepaid plan also takes a large discount off upfront. See your real number in the Powerwall Calculator.
? "I'll just wait until rates go up more."
Rates haven't been waiting. PG&E's electricity charges rose more than 60% from January 2020 to January 2025, according to a KQED analysis. At $280 a month, you'll send your utility $3,360 this year either way. Two programs also have real deadlines: this round of PG&E's $7,500 rebate closes December 31, 2026, and the solar property tax exclusion only covers systems completed by that date.
? "I already have solar. Why would I need a battery?"
Because most grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid goes down. A battery keeps your home running during a shutoff and stores your daytime solar for the evening peak. Homes with existing solar are also the best fit for rebates like Clean Power Alliance's.
Which way of paying for solar fits you best?
What you pay upfront, who owns the system, and what it means for your monthly costs
| Option | Upfront cost | Who owns the system | Monthly impact | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most chosen Maxwell Power prepaid plan |
Paid at signing, after a large upfront discount. Use cash or a Travis Credit Union or Credit Human loan. | Maxwell Power for 6 years, then you, at no extra cost | No solar payment if you pay cash. A fixed loan payment if you finance. | Most homeowners. Maxwell insures, monitors and maintains it for 6 years, and energy community homes get an extra discount. |
| Purchase loan Travis Credit Union / Credit Human |
$0 with a loan | You own it from day one | Fixed loan payment, sized to your system | Homeowners who qualify and want to own the system outright from the start |
| State-supported GoGreen Financing |
$0 with a loan | You own it from day one | Fixed loan payment, sized to your system | Homeowners who qualify for California's CAEATFA-backed energy upgrade loans |
| $0 down Power purchase agreement (LightReach) |
$0 | The provider owns it for the life of the agreement | A monthly rate for the power. Some plans rise each year. | Homeowners who want no upfront cost and don't need to own the system. Doesn't qualify for ownership-based battery rebates. |
| Fallback PACE financing |
$0 upfront | You own it. The loan is tied to the property, not to you personally. | Added to your property tax bill | Homeowners who don't qualify for standard loans. Not the lowest-cost option if you do qualify. |
Loan approval, rates and terms depend on the lender, your credit and your system size. See the full financing comparison, or get a personalized breakdown with the solar estimator above. This table describes how each option is structured, not guaranteed rates.
What do California homeowners ask about solar incentives?
No, not for homeowners who buy solar directly. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, according to the IRS. California has no state solar tax credit, so today's savings come from utility rebates and the prepaid discount.
Most California rebates now pay toward a home battery. PG&E pays $7,500 for qualifying homes, SMUD pays up to $6,000, and Clean Power Alliance pays up to $3,500. PG&E and SCE also offer smaller rebates on portable batteries.
No, not for most homeowners. SGIP's general funding closed on December 31, 2025. Only a waitlisted track for specific low-income households remains. Read our SGIP explainer.
SMUD pays $300 per kWh, up to $6,000 per household. One Powerwall 3 comes to about $3,240, and two reach the cap. Tesla owners also earn $110 to $330 a quarter. Use our Powerwall Calculator to estimate your savings.
Your address needs five or more PG&E Wildfire Safety outages since January 1, 2024. About 141 rebates remained as of October 16, 2026, and this round closes December 31, 2026. Check your address.
It's up to $3,500 toward a home battery for Clean Power Alliance customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You need new or existing solar and no battery yet. See the full rebate guide.
No. PACE financing qualifies you based on your property taxes, not your credit score, though it's usually not the lowest-cost option. Travis Credit Union, Credit Human and GoGreen loans usually cost less if you qualify.
You get a large discount off solar and batteries upfront, then pay the rest at signing with cash or a loan. Maxwell Power owns and maintains the system for 6 years, then it becomes yours at no extra cost. See how it works.
Yes, for systems completed by December 31, 2026. Completed means your utility has given permission to operate. Systems that make the deadline keep the exclusion for as long as you own the home.
Yes. LADWP still credits exported solar at or near the full retail rate, which makes solar alone a strong fit. LADWP doesn't offer a general battery rebate, but income-qualified homes may fit its Solar Rooftops program.
Yes, in most territories. PG&E's and SMUD's battery rebates don't require new solar panels. Clean Power Alliance's rebate requires solar, but solar you already have counts.
Your utility and your address decide most of it. Use the solar estimator above, or book a free consultation for a program-by-program breakdown for your address.
Don't Leave Your Rebate on the Table. See What Your Address Qualifies For.
Most of these programs depend on your utility and your address, and some have limited funding. Get your real numbers in about 2 minutes, with no obligation.