The SGIP home-battery rebate, explained
The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) is California’s rebate for energy storage. With the federal solar tax credit gone after 2025, SGIP is one of the main incentives left that can meaningfully lower the cost of a home battery.
What SGIP is
SGIP is a statewide rebate, funded through utility bills and administered by the big utilities (including PG&E), that pays a set amount per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity you install. It has several tiers, and the amount you get depends on which tier you qualify for.
The tiers — and why they matter
The General Market tier is modest and steps down over time as funding is claimed. The Equity tier pays substantially more for income-qualified customers. The Equity Resiliency tier pays the most — historically enough to cover much or nearly all of a battery — for customers who are in a high fire-threat district or have experienced repeated PSPS shutoffs, and who meet medical-baseline or income criteria. If you live in a foothill or wildfire area served by PG&E, this tier is worth investigating first.
Who qualifies
Eligibility hinges on things like your utility, income level, whether you rely on medical baseline or electric medical equipment, and whether your area is a designated fire-threat / PSPS zone. Even the General Market tier is open to typical homeowners adding storage. An installer registered with the program files the SGIP paperwork for you.
How to use it
Because rebate amounts decline as funds are claimed and rules change, treat any figure you read as a starting point and confirm the current step and your tier before you sign. Ask your installer to show the battery quote with and without the SGIP rebate applied so you can see the real out-of-pocket cost.
The fastest way past the sales pitch is your own numbers. Design a system for your address in about a minute — no signup.
How much does SGIP pay for a home battery in 2026?
It depends on your tier. The General Market rate is a modest per-kWh amount that steps down over time; the Equity and Equity Resiliency tiers pay much more - the resiliency tier has historically covered most of a battery for eligible fire-threat, PSPS or medically vulnerable customers. Confirm the current step, since amounts change.
Who qualifies for the higher SGIP tiers?
The Equity tier is for income-qualified customers; the Equity Resiliency tier adds a requirement of being in a high fire-threat district or having experienced repeated PSPS shutoffs, often with a medical-baseline or income component. Your installer confirms eligibility.
Is SGIP still available now that the federal tax credit ended?
Yes. SGIP is a California program, separate from the federal tax credit that ended after 2025. It applies to the battery, not the solar panels, and remains one of the main storage incentives in 2026.
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