Home Backup Battery Rebates Available in Response to Wildfires and Power Shutoffs

Does your water come from a well, or do you have medical electricity needs?  One of our neighbors in the Oak Hill Area Fire Safe Council recently told us about a rebate program that pays for purchasing and installing battery backups at homes to avoid some of the problems caused by the Public Safety Power Shutoffs during high fire risk periods.  These rebates are through the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and will cover all or nearly all of the cost of home backup batteries (like the Tesla Power Wall or LG Chem RESU10 batteries).

To qualify, you need to live in a high fire risk area like we do (Tier 2 and Tier 3) and rely on an electric pump for your water supply or have notified PG&E of a potentially life-threatening illness/condition if the power shuts off. There are a few other conditions that may apply for some folks.  This rebate program was set up in response to the recent wildfires and to help residents that are most vulnerable in the event of power shutoffs.

The rebate program, called the Equity Resiliency Incentive, opened on May 1 and is designed to cover not only the cost of purchasing 2 backup batteries but also may cover the costs of design, permitting and installation, depending on the cost of the batteries themselves. As of 5/17/2022 the Small Residential Storage funds that are available is about $4.7 million dollars for residents within the PG&E area .  There are still other funds currently available for other power providers.  

The CPUC website about the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) will tell you more about the program and how to apply.  Be sure to look at the portion that describes the Equity Resiliency program.  You can learn more at PG&E’s SGIP website, where there is a link to apply for the rebate.