California's Battery Rebates Dried Up Here's How Homeowners Are Still Getting Storage Without Buying or Financing Equipment

California's Battery Rebates Dried Up
Here's How Homeowners Are Still Getting Storage Without Buying or Financing Equipment

For years, California's Self-Generation Incentive Program, known as SGIP, helped homeowners cover part of the cost of a home battery. In 2026, that door has largely closed for most new applicants.

Where SGIP stands in 2026
According to Southern California Edison, SGIP's ratepayer-funded budgets are now closed to new applicants. The state-funded Residential Solar and Storage Equity budget, which focused on underserved communities, has been exhausted and is currently on a waitlist. SGIP has also come with conditions. Residential participants generally must enroll in approved time-of-use rates and join demand response programs. The program has prioritized equity customers and households that rely on electric well pumps in high fire-threat areas, with some special provisions for low-income customers. For a typical homeowner hoping to use a rebate to offset the cost of a battery this year, the reality is simple: the money is not available right now.

Why homeowners still want batteries
The reasons people want home storage have not gone away. Electric rates on SCE, SDG&E, and PG&E have roughly doubled over the past decade, according to the CPUC's Public Advocates Office. Time-of-use pricing makes evening power the most expensive of the day. Public safety power shutoffs and wildfire-related outages remain a fact of life in many communities. A battery paired with rooftop solar addresses all three. It stores daytime solar for use during peak hours, lowers the amount of expensive grid power a home buys, and keeps essential loads running when the grid goes down. Interest is strong: EnergySage reported that 76 percent of homeowners were interested in adding battery storage in the first half of 2026.

Rebates were never the only path
Rebates help homeowners who are buying a battery. But buying is not the only way to get one. Through third-party ownership programs, qualifying homeowners can get solar and battery storage installed without buying or financing equipment. The provider owns and maintains the system, and the homeowner enjoys lower energy costs and backup power.
Because the homeowner is not purchasing the equipment, there is no rebate application, no waitlist, and no upfront purchase to worry about. Eligibility is based largely on your home and energy usage.

The bottom line
California's battery rebate programs may be closed or waitlisted, but the benefits of home storage are as strong as ever. If you have been holding off on a battery because the incentives dried up, there may be a faster path than you think.

To find out if your home qualifies for a TPO solar and battery program, visit myhomesolution.org/california_public_utility_commissions