California is ranked as the 12th best state to get solar in the United States; it has an average savings amount of $1,464 and an impressively low payback period of about 7 years. (Solar Power Rocks)
But solar isn’t the only way to save energy and money. HVAC systems, windows, doors, roofs, and insulation are all keys to save California residents money on their electric bill as it is one of the most expensive states for electric.
Not to mention, California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, or RPS, mandates that 50% of all energy must come from renewable sources by 2030.
So, how can Californians save money while taking on big projects of installing new solar panels or replacing roofs and HVAC systems?
The state and many utilities within California have set up rebate programs that focus on energy efficiency, for both residential units and commercial.
To help California homeowners know what is available for them, we have compiled a list of all the rebate programs that have been updated in the last 4 years (2018-2021).
Statewide Rebate Programs
The California Solar Initiative, or CSI, is a rebate program that has two main incentive programs: Expected Performance-Based Buydown (EPBB) and Performance Based Incentive (PBI). Both are incentive programs where the state will pay solar system owners for the performance of their solar system, expected or actual.
The EPBB is only available for smaller systems, 30 kW, which is great for homeowners. It is one a one-time upfront payout based on your systems expected performance.
The PBI, while it can be used for smaller systems, is mandatory for systems over 30 kW. Over five years, this incentive will pay the solar system owners monthly payments based on the actual energy produced by the system, instead of what is expected.
DAC-SASH provides upfront rebates to income-eligible, single-family homeowners installing solar panels.
PACE, or Property Assessed Clean Energy, allows homeowners to finance their solar panel installation and pay it back through their property taxes.
Besides actual programs, there are property tax exemptions for installed solar systems. A property tax exemption makes it more economically feasible for a taxpayer to install a solar system on a residential or commercial property.
California is also known for its great net metering laws. If there is energy that was produced by the solar panels that didn’t end up being used, that amount of energy is deducted from the monthly bill or credited toward a future bill.
Utility, County, & City Rebate Programs
Besides just statewide programs, many counties, cities, and utilities within California have energy efficiency rebate programs that encourage homeowners and business owners alike to consider switching to renewable energy sources, or at least, install energy efficient products.
Summary of All Programs
Here’s a chart summarizing all of the rebate programs–both statewide and county and city–and what incentives might be available to you. I suggest using the search function on your browser to search by the utility you want (HVAC, roofing, solar, windows, or something related) or by your county/city–it’s a pretty long list.
These programs have other amenities covered, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, so if you’re looking for more than just HVAC, windows, roofs, windows, insulation, and solar, there are many sources available, such as DSIRE, that can show you all the available rebate programs and tax credits offered in your area.
No matter where you live, there are programs available for homeowners that can help offset the cost of numerous energy efficiency amenities.
| Name of Rebate Program | Utilities Covered | Incentive Amount(s) |
| Marin County Residential Rebate Program | Service Panel Upgrade Heat Pump Water Heater Central Heat Pump Mini-Split Heat Pump |
$1200 $1000 to $2000 $1000 to $4500 $800 to $3000 |
| California Solar Initiative – Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) Program | Solar Photovoltaics | $3/W CEC-AC for low-income sectors |
| SDG&E – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Gas Water Heater Small Thermostat |
$350 $100 $75 |
| PG&E – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Smart Thermostat High-Efficiency Electric Heat Pump/Water Heater |
$50 $300 |
| SCE – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Heat Pump Water Heater Smart Thermostat Ducted Evap Cooling Sys Window Evap Cooling Sys |
$200 Up to $150 $300 to $400 $200 |
| Lassen Municipal Utility District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Room AC Air Source Heat Pumps Ground Source Heat Pump Central AC Evaporative Cooled AC Ductless Mini-Split AC Whole House Fan Storage Water Heater Heat Pump Water Heater Ceiling Fan |
$75 $100 – $125 per ton $1,000 per ton $25 – $75 per ton $100 per ton $50 – $100 per ton $25 $200 $350 $250 |
| Glendale Water and Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Room Air Conditioners Central Air Conditioners Ceiling Fan Whole House Fan Smart Thermostat |
$100 – $125 $50 – $60 $100 – $125 per ton $15 – $25 $75 – $100 $100 |
| Riverside Public Utilities – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan HVAC Tune-Up Central AC Units/Heat Pumps Whole House Evap Cooler Wall/Window Room Evap Cooler Attic Insulation Exterior Wall Insulation Whole House Fan Electric Attic Vent Fan Duct Replacement Duct Sealing/Blower Door Test Cool Roof Smart Programmable Thermostat Windows/Glass Doors Window Film Room Air Conditioner Ceiling Fan Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Electric Heat Pump Dryer High-E Electric Water Heater |
$100 $25 $150 – $250 per ton $150 $50 10¢ – 20¢ per sq ft 15¢ per sq ft $100 $50 $150 50% of project cost (up to $350 max) 10¢ per sq ft $50 $1 per sq ft $1 per sq ft $50 $25 each $200 $200 $50 |
| Redding Electric – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Heat Pump Air Conditioner Wi-Fi Enabled Thermostat Whole House Fan Heat Pump Water Heater Electric Storage Water Heater Dual Pane Windows Wall Insulation Ceiling Insulation Ceiling Fan Room AC |
$900 $600 $75 $250 $750 $100 $5 per sq ft $1 per sq ft 30¢ per sq ft $25 $100 |
| Turlock Irrigation District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Room Air Conditioners Ductless Mini Split AC Central AC Heat Pump Water Heaters Whole House Fans Smart Thermostat |
$100 $50 $330 per ton $250 – $500 $350 $75 $50 |
| Truckee Donner Public Utility District – Energy Conservation Rebate Program | Heat Pump Water Heater Thermally Efficient Windows |
$1,000 for electric-to-electric upgrade, $3,000 for gas-to-electric conversion $5 per sq ft |
| Pasadena Water and Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Split-System Central AC Room AC Central AC Tune-Up Ceiling Fan Heat Pump Programmable Thermostat Insulation Whole House Ventilation Fan Cool Roof |
$100 – $120 $100 – $120 $40 – $55 $40 – $50 $30 – $35 per ton $150 – $170 $50 – $60 10¢ – 15¢ per sq ft $225 – $250 20¢ – 25¢ per sq ft |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Energy Star Windows Cool Roof Room Air Conditioner Central Air Conditioner Heat Pump Whole House Fan Programmable Thermostat |
$2 per sq ft 20¢ – 30¢ per sq ft $50 $100 – $120 per ton $100 per ton $200 $75 |
| Roseville Electric – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | HVAC Smart Thermostat Window Replacement Whole House Fan Ceiling Fan |
Up to $1000 $100 $5 per sq ft ($1000 cap) $400 $50 |
| Modesto Irrigation District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Central AC Heat Pump Mini-Split AC Mini-Split Heat Pump Whole House Fan Smart Thermostat Attic Insulation Radiant Barrier (Attic/Roof) Room AC Water Heater Heat Pump Water Heater Energy Star Replacement Window |
$50 – $100 $250 – $600 $450 – $700 $250 $350 $100 per unit $50 17¢ per sq ft 10¢ per sq ft (up to $500) $50 $75 $500 $2 per sq ft |
| Anaheim Public Utilities Residential Home Efficiency Rebate Program | AC Tune-Up Room AC Central AC Smart Thermostat Air Duct Repair High Performance Windows Ceiling Fan Whole House Fan Attic Fan |
$75 – $100 $100 $200 per ton $50 50% of repair costs $1 per sq ft $20 $100 $30 |
| Plumas-Sierra REC – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Ceiling Fan Storage/Heat Pump Water Heater Windows Insulation Room AC Central AC Air-Source Heat Pump Ground Source Heat Pump |
$25 $150 $1.50 – $3 per sq ft 25¢ – 35¢ per sq ft $75 $25 – $75 $150 – $350 $600 |
| Lodi Electric Utility – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Water Heater (>30 gal) Heat Pump Water Heater Ceiling Fan Insulation Replacement Window Window Film Air Conditioner Web-Enabled Smart Thermostat Central AC Heat Pump Whole House Fan Refrigerant Charge and Tune-Up Air/Duct Sealing Testing |
15¢ per cubic feet per minute $100 $200 $50 30¢ – 75¢ per sq ft $3 per sq ft 50¢ per sq ft $25 $50 $100 – $150 $250 per ton of cooling $300 $20 per ton of cooling $20 – $150 |
| Burbank Water & Power- Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Ceiling Fan Room AC Smart Thermostat Central AC Attic Insulation Wall Insulation |
$25 $35 $50 $160 – $250 per ton 15¢ per sq ft 15¢ per sq ft |
| Santa Clara Water & Sewer – Solar Water Heating Program | Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Pool Heating | Varies |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Solar Water Heating Program | Solar Water Heat | Single-family residential gas-displacing systems: $18.59 per therm displaced (max of $2,719) Single-family residential electric or propane-displacing systems: $0.54 per kWh displaced (max of $1,834) |
| SMUD – PV Residential Retrofit Buy-Down | Solar Photovoltaics | $300 (10kW) |
| SMUD – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Room AC Smart Thermostat Heat Pump Water Heater HVAC Replacement Whole House Fan Ductless Mini Split |
$100 $50 $1000 – $3000 $500 – $650 $100 $200 – $800 |
| Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Energy – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Solar Attic Fan Attic Insulation Electric Attic Fan Room Air Conditioner Dual Pane Windows Energy Star Room Air Conditioner Energy Star Clothes Washer HVAC Systems Evaporative Cooler Radiant Barrier Ductless Mini Split Systems Thermostat |
$125 30¢ per sq ft $75 $100 per unit $2 per sq ft $100 per unit $100 per unit $125 – $300 per ton $300 per unit 30¢ per sq ft $200 $50 |
| Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Statements | Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics | 100% of system value 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment |
| Pacific Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Central AC Duct Sealing and Duct Insulation Ductless Heat Pumps Evaporative Coolers Heat Pumps Room AC Heat Pump Water Heaters Air Sealing Insulation |
$100 Up to $500 Up to $1500 Up to $100 Up to $1000 Special Pricing Available $600 $200 Up to 75¢ per sq ft |
| Silicon Valley Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Attic Insulation Ceiling Fan |
10¢ per sq ft $35 per unit |
