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Intro to the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)




If you’re a Californian homeowner who is looking into energy storage, chances are you’ve heard of the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). The SGIP rebate is a state incentive for homeowners looking to install a home battery system, either with or without solar. To help strengthen its ongoing efforts in wildfire resiliency, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved an extension of SGIP, which includes a new budget and modified incentive programs totaling over $1.2 billion for those in the fire zones of California.

SGIP offsets most, or in some cases all, of the cost of energy storage projects sited at disadvantaged and low-income residences, as well as medically vulnerable customers, in high fire-threat areas. This helps unlock the ability for these populations to utilize energy storage as a means of having more reliable energy solutions when electricity is shut off during planned and unplanned outages.

Here’s how to qualify:

  1. Equity Budget – Incentive Amount: $850/kWh – Low-Income Zones
    1. Low-income or customers in a disadvantaged community that is also in a fire zone
    2. Low-income customers or medically vulnerable customers in these areas are eligible for the Equity Resiliency budget.
    3. Customer was previously designated eligible for Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program.
    4. Home is owned by a Native American on tribal land
  2. Equity Resiliency Budget – Incentive Amount: $1000/kWh – High-Risk Fire Zones
    1. Residential customers in disadvantaged or low-income communities that are also in fire zones (Tier 2  or Tier 3 high-risk fire zones.
    2. PG&E customers that have experienced two or more PSPS events.
    3. All medical baseline customers in these areas or
    4. Customers that rely on electric pump wells
  3. Small Residential General Market – Incentive Amount: Step 6 – $200/kWh, Step 7 – $150/kWh – Qualified Census Tracts
    1. All homeowners in the areas above and who meet the income threshold are eligible for the Equity Budget, even if their house is not deed restricted.
  • More than $1 billion to fund the SGIP for the next critical fire season and subsequent years (2020-2024).
  • Customers with medical needs and impacted communities during PSPS events have a higher chance of more money granted.
  • The program targets Tier 2 and Tier 3 high fire threat districts, where there is “extreme” and “elevated” risk of fire and disadvantaged and low income customers, medically vulnerable households, critical services facilities, and low income solar program customers. The decision also extends eligibility to customers affected by at least two prior PSPS events.
  • Customers who were affected by the last two PSPS events gain eligibility.
  • Customers relying on wells with electric pumps are eligible.
  • If you do not meet the requirements above, the SGIP can still cover a percentage of the costs.

The savings don’t stop there. If you are planning to marry your energy storage system with a solar PV array, you can capitalize on up to a 26% federal investment tax credit (ITC). If you need additional information on SGIP, contact the Electriq Power team at electriqpower.com/contact.