PG&E Customers Can Get Up to $500 Back on a Portable Battery
If your home is in a PG&E high fire-risk area, you may qualify for a $300 rebate on a qualifying portable battery — up to $500 if you're on the CARE or FERA program. Not every battery on the market qualifies. Here's the one that does, and how to check your address.
Yes, if it holds between 290 and 1,000 watt-hours and your address is in a PG&E high fire-risk area. Larger batteries like most home-backup models do not qualify.
$300 per household. If you're enrolled in PG&E's CARE or FERA program, you can receive up to $500 total, as long as it doesn't exceed the battery's retail price.
The EcoFlow River 2 Pro is a confirmed PG&E-qualified pick at 716 watt-hours. Solar With Watts verified it directly against PG&E's published qualified product list.
Who Qualifies for the PG&E Portable Battery Rebate?
You need an active PG&E electric account, and your address has to meet at least one of three wildfire-risk criteria below. There's no income requirement to qualify for the base $300 rebate.
- Located in a High Fire-Threat District (HFTD), Tier 2 or Tier 3
- Located in a High Fire Risk Area (HFRA)
- Served by an Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting (EPSS) circuit
Customers enrolled in PG&E's California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program can receive up to an additional $200 on top of the base $300 — as long as the total doesn't exceed the battery's retail price.
Is This the Same as PG&E's $7,500 Battery Rebate?
No. PG&E actually runs two separate battery rebate programs, and they cover completely different products. Here's how to tell which one applies to you.
| Portable Battery Rebate (this page) | Permanent Battery Storage Rebate | |
|---|---|---|
| Rebate amount | $300 – $500 | Up to $7,500 |
| What it covers | A portable power station you plug in and carry — no installation | A permanently installed home battery, like a Tesla Powerwall |
| Capacity limit | 290Wh – 1,000Wh only | No portable Wh cap — sized to your home |
| Installation required? | No | Yes, licensed electrician |
| Program name | Generator & Battery Rebate Program (GBRP) | Permanent Battery Storage Rebate |
At 716 watt-hours, the River 2 Pro sits comfortably inside PG&E's 290–1,000Wh rebate window — confirmed directly against PG&E's published qualified product list.
Which Portable Batteries Actually Qualify?
Not every portable power station on the market qualifies for this rebate. PG&E's capacity limit rules out most of the "whole-home capable" models people search for.
290Wh – 1,000Wh This is a strict limit. A battery rated at 1,024Wh — even by just 24Wh — does not qualify. There's no rounding.
| Battery | Capacity | PG&E Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow River 2 Pro | 716Wh | Yes |
| BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | 1,024Wh | No |
| BLUETTI Elite 300 | 3,014Wh | No |
| BLUETTI Elite 400 | 3,840Wh | No |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 | 2,765Wh base (expandable to 100kWh) | No |
Want more capacity than the rebate allows? The larger models above are still excellent home-backup options — they just won't qualify for this specific rebate. See the full BLUETTI lineup →
How Do You Apply for the PG&E Portable Battery Rebate?
You buy the battery first, then apply for the rebate — PG&E won't reimburse a purchase before it's delivered. Here's the process in four steps.
Questions about your specific application? PG&E's program team can be reached directly at GeneratorBatteryRebateProgram@pge.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This is a separate program for portable batteries only, worth $300–$500. The $7,500 rebate is for permanently installed whole-home batteries — see that program here.
Enter your address into PG&E's Wildfire Safety Progress Map. A green result means you're in an eligible High Fire-Threat District, High Fire Risk Area, or EPSS circuit.
$300 per household is the base rebate. If you're enrolled in CARE or FERA, you can get up to $500 total, capped at what you paid for the battery.
Between 290 and 1,000 watt-hours, with no exceptions. A battery even slightly over 1,000Wh, like 1,024Wh, does not qualify.
Yes, as long as it's between 290Wh and 1,000Wh and isn't excluded — like a USB power bank or car battery. PG&E's list gives named examples, but it isn't the only option.
You can buy at a discount or during a sale, but PG&E factors what you actually paid into your final rebate calculation. Apply based on your actual receipt total, not the list price.
12 months from your purchase date, or December 31, 2026 — whichever comes first. Funding is first-come, first-served until PG&E's budget runs out.
No. A portable battery plugs into a wall outlet to charge and requires no installation, permits, or electrician.
No. You need an active PG&E electric account tied to a qualifying address — renters with an account in their own name can apply too.
Prior participation in PG&E's separate Portable Battery Program or the CFILC disability access program disqualifies you, along with only one rebate allowed per PG&E account.
Check your address, then grab the EcoFlow River 2 Pro before applying for your PG&E rebate.