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 or power station — up to $500 if you're on the CARE or FERA program. Not every battery on the market qualifies. Here are two that fit PG&E's size rules, how to check your address, and how to confirm the model with PG&E before you buy.
It can, if it holds between 290 and 1,000 watt-hours, your address is in a PG&E high fire-risk area, and the model isn't on PG&E's exclusion list. 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 BLUETTI Pioneer Na (900 watt-hours) is named on PG&E's qualified product list. For a lower price, the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max (572 watt-hours) fits PG&E's size rule but isn't on the list, so confirm it with PG&E before you buy.
Who Qualifies for the PG&E Portable Battery & Power Station Rebate?
You need an active PG&E electric account (residential or business), 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.
PG&E requires you to apply within 12 months of your purchase date or by December 31, 2026 — whichever comes first. You can only apply after your battery has been delivered, so allow time for shipping. You'll need proof of purchase and delivery.
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, by a licensed contractor |
| Ownership | You buy it outright | You must own the battery — cash, loan, or a prepaid plan structured as a purchase. A PPA doesn't qualify. |
| Availability | Apply by December 31, 2026 | Limited number of rebates — check your address for eligibility |
| Program name | Generator & Battery Rebate Program (GBRP) | Permanent Battery Storage Rebate |
Which Portable Batteries & Power Stations 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? |
|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Pioneer Na | 900Wh | Yes — on PG&E's list |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max | 572Wh | Fits size rule — confirm with PG&E |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | 1,024Wh | No |
| 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. SCE customers: SCE's portable rebate has no capacity cap — see the SCE rebate. See the full BLUETTI lineup →
Portable Batteries & Power Stations That Fit PG&E's Rebate
Two options inside PG&E's 290–1,000Wh window: one named on PG&E's qualified product list, and one lower-cost pick you should confirm with PG&E before you buy.
At 900 watt-hours, the Pioneer Na is named on PG&E's qualified product list, so there's no guesswork. Its 1,500W output runs a fridge plus a coffee maker or microwave for short stretches, and its sodium-ion battery holds up well in cold weather.
At 572 watt-hours, the RIVER 3 Max fits inside PG&E's 290–1,000Wh size rule and costs less than the Pioneer Na. Its 600W output covers a fridge, Wi-Fi, lights, phones, and a CPAP — not a microwave or space heater.
How Do You Apply for the PG&E Portable Battery & Power Station 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.
PG&E Portable Battery Rebate FAQs
No. This is a separate program for portable batteries only, worth $300–$500. The $7,500 rebate is for permanently installed home batteries like the Tesla Powerwall — 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.
The BLUETTI Pioneer Na (900Wh) is named on PG&E's qualified product list, so it's the safest pick. The lower-cost EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max (572Wh) fits the size rule but isn't on the list, so email PG&E to confirm it before you buy. Compare both picks.
Possibly. PG&E says a battery not on its list may qualify if the manufacturer's specs show 290Wh to 1,000Wh and it isn't excluded — like a USB power bank, car battery, or non-integrated battery. Email the model and its spec page to GeneratorBatteryRebateProgram@pge.com to confirm before you buy.
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. You can only apply after the battery is delivered, so leave time for shipping.
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, and only one rebate is allowed per PG&E account. The battery must also be bought new — refurbished, open-box, resold, or rented units don't qualify.
Check your address, buy a battery that fits PG&E's rules, and apply after it's delivered — by December 31, 2026. The BLUETTI Pioneer Na is on PG&E's list, or compare both picks.