Incentives for solar, batteries and electrical upgrades in 2026

What it covers: Excludes the added assessed value of a new solar or solar-plus-storage system from property tax

Details: The exclusion is a new construction exclusion, not an exemption: it keeps the added value of a qualifying solar system from increasing your existing property tax assessment. Systems installed before 2027-01-01 qualify. If this link is unavailable, contact your county assessor’s office for the current exclusion form.

Eligibility: Applies to active solar energy systems, meaning solar used for water heating, space conditioning, producing electricity, process heat, or solar mechanical energy, installed before January 1, 2027. Solar pool heaters, hot tub heaters, passive energy systems, and wind energy systems do not qualify.

What it covers: Portable backup power system (generator or battery) rebate

Details: Up to $300 for adding a portable backup power system (generator or battery) to your home, plus up to $200 more if you participate in PG&E’s CARE or FERA program. Portable batteries must have a capacity between 290 Wh and 1 kWh; portable generators must be CARB compliant. Rebates are first-come, first-served while funds remain; once funds run out, PG&E stops accepting applications for 2026. Apply within 12 months of your purchase date or by December 31, 2026, whichever is sooner.

Eligibility: An active PG&E account, and a home in any one of these: a Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire-Threat District, a High Fire Risk Area, or an area served by an Enhanced Power Safety Settings (EPSS) circuit.

What it covers: Solar and battery (or standalone battery) at little or no cost for income-qualified San Jose homeowners

Details: No out-of-pocket through SGIP; includes 10 years of maintenance. Also available as a standalone battery (solar not required). State funding is limited and expected to be fully reserved in 2026, so it’s best to check eligibility as soon as possible.

Eligibility: SJCE customer; own and occupy a single-family home under 3,500 sq ft in San Jose; household income at or below 80% of area median income. Maximum income by household size: 1 person $111,700; 2 people $127,650; 3 people $143,600; 4 people $159,550; 5 people $172,350; 6 people $185,100; 7 people $197,850; 8 people $210,650.

What it covers: Home battery storage integrated with solar PV

Details: $0.15 per watt-hour up to $2,700, plus $2,000 FRAP and $2,000 LIHEAP income-qualified bonuses. Must have an existing PV system or install one along with the battery. One rebate per SVP service address. Valid for batteries purchased and installed on or after July 1, 2024.

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP residential customer with an existing PV system, or installing one together with the battery; must apply within 60 days of purchase or final permit

What it covers: Free solar PV system for income-qualified homeowners

Details: Grant of $3.50/watt up to 3 kW DC (a free PV system).

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP homeowner; approved for FRAP in at least two consecutive years

What it covers: Maintenance of an existing solar PV system

Details: Up to $1,500 for PV tune-up by a CA-licensed contractor; one per address per 12 months

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP customer with an existing operating PV system

What it covers: Smart electrical panel (SPAN, Lumin, Koben)

Details: $4,000, plus a $1,000 FRAP bonus and a $1,000 LIHEAP bonus for income-qualified households. For projects on or after 2025-07-01

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP customer

What it covers: Main electrical service panel upgrade (add-on)

Details: $1,500 base rebate, plus $500 FRAP and $500 LIHEAP income-qualified bonuses. Add-on rebate; requires another SVP home electrification rebate already in progress.

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP customer with another SVP home electrification rebate in progress

What it covers: New electrical circuits prewired for future electric appliances (add-on rebate)

Details: $500 per circuit, up to $2,000 for 4 circuits; plus FRAP $250 and LIHEAP $250 per circuit (up to $1,000 for 4 circuits) income-qualified bonus. Add-on rebate; requires another SVP home electrification rebate already in progress.

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP customer with another SVP home electrification rebate in progress

What it covers: Circuit pauser or splitter device to manage electrical load on an existing panel (add-on rebate)

Details: $50 base rebate, plus $50 FRAP and $50 LIHEAP income-qualified bonuses. Add-on rebate; requires another SVP home electrification rebate already in progress.

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP customer with another SVP home electrification rebate in progress

What it covers: Grant to help Homeowners Associations fund energy-efficiency upgrades to common areas

Details: Grant of up to $25,000 per HOA for common-area energy-efficiency upgrades.

Eligibility: City of Santa Clara SVP-served Homeowners Association (common areas, not individual units)

What it covers: No-cost rooftop solar for low-income homeowners in disadvantaged communities

Details: No-cost solar system via GRID Alternatives, backed by $8.5 million in incentives annually

Eligibility: Own and occupy a single-family home as your primary residence; household income at or below CARE or FERA limits; home in a CalEnviroScreen 4.0 disadvantaged community; electric service from PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E

What it covers: Policy context, not a rebate: how new solar exports are credited

Details: Exports credited at the grid’s hourly value (lower midday, higher evening), which is why solar-plus-battery is now the common design. New residential solar on PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E takes service on the net billing tariff, in effect since April 15, 2023. Residential PG&E and SCE customers who apply to interconnect before the end of 2027 receive a nine-year export compensation adder (higher bill credits for exported energy); customers required to add solar by code, such as under California’s building code for new construction, do not receive the adder. New solar customers must take service on an electrification TOU rate: E-ELEC for PG&E, TOU-D-PRIME for SCE, EV-TOU-5 for SDG&E.

Eligibility: All new residential solar on PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E

What it covers: Solar PV on multifamily affordable housing

Details: Up to $3.50 per AC watt for tenant load, $1.19 per AC watt for common area. The program’s annual budget (up to $100 million) was collected through June 2026. California Solar for All funding has been earmarked to support the program going forward; specific amounts have not been published yet. Decision D.26-07-029 (July 2026) sets out the 2032 program closure process (true-up, fund allocation, and account closeouts) and updates multifamily property eligibility standards.

Eligibility: Deed-restricted multifamily affordable housing. Property eligibility standards were updated by Decision D.26-07-029 (July 2026).