California Energy Rebates 2026

California offers utility-specific rebates from PG&E, SCE, LADWP, and SDG&E that remain active. The major IRA-funded programs face access challenges: HEAR single-family rebates are fully reserved (waitlist only since February 2026), TECH Clean CA single-family incentives closed November 2025, HOMES is funded but not yet launched, and SGIP battery storage is on a waitlist. Check each program's website for current availability before planning upgrades.

California's HOMES program is funded at approximately $291 million but has not launched as of mid-2026. When active, low-income households (below 80% AMI) can receive up to $8,000 for whole-home retrofits. Moderate-income households (80-150% AMI) can receive up to $4,000. Rebates require at least 20% measured energy savings, BPI-certified contractors, and income verification. Monitor energy.ca.gov for launch announcements.

TECH Clean California single-family heat pump incentives closed to new reservations in November 2025, with all regions fully exhausted by February 2026. HEAR single-family rebates are also fully reserved statewide. HOMES Phase II funding is allocated but not yet launched. Stacking opportunities remain limited until new program phases open -- check techcleanca.com for updates on future openings.

Most California rebate programs target homeowners. Renters can sometimes benefit if their landlord participates in utility weatherization programs like PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance. HEAR rebates cover the household regardless of tenure for qualifying appliances, but the landlord or property owner typically must authorize installation. Multifamily HEAR applications remain open, which can benefit renters in apartment buildings.

As of mid-2026, HEAR single-family rebates are fully reserved statewide -- no new applications accepted, though a waitlist exists. HOMES funding ($291M) is allocated but the program has not launched. HEEHRA Phase II ($152M additional) is also funded but pending. Monitor energy.ca.gov for reopening dates. Multifamily HEAR applications remain open.

TECH Clean California provided upfront incentives for heat pump HVAC (up to $5,800) and heat pump water heaters (up to $4,885) through participating contractors. The single-family program closed to new reservations in November 2025. Visit techcleanca.com to check if any budget is restored in future phases and to find a participating contractor when new funding opens.

The federal Section 25C tax credit for energy-efficient windows and doors expired December 31, 2025. As of mid-2026, no statewide California rebate specifically covers window or door replacements. Some utility and local programs offer rebates when windows are bundled with whole-home weatherization projects. See our California windows and doors rebates page for current utility-specific options and local grant programs.

SGIP provided per-kWh rebates on home battery storage: approximately $150/kWh for general market customers, $850/kWh for equity-tier households (below 80% AMI), and $1,000/kWh for equity resilience households in high-fire-risk areas. As of January 2026, all ratepayer-funded SGIP budgets are closed to new applications. Income-qualified households below 80% AMI may join the RSSE AB 209 waitlist -- check selfgenc.com for status.

When all programs are active, California allows stacking: TECH Clean CA incentives can combine with HEAR point-of-sale rebates, HOMES whole-home rebates, and utility programs. However, as of mid-2026, TECH Clean CA single-family incentives and HEAR single-family rebates are both fully reserved. Once HOMES and HEEHRA Phase II launch, stacking will again be possible -- income-qualified households stand to benefit most.

The federal residential solar Investment Tax Credit (Section 25D, 30%) expired for homeowners on December 31, 2025 and is not available for 2026 installations. California has no separate state solar tax credit. Third-party-owned systems (leases, PPAs) benefit from the commercial ITC passed to the provider. SGIP battery storage for income-qualified households remains on a waitlist. NEM 3.0 net metering still applies for new solar installations.

HEAR eligibility is based on Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. Households below 80% AMI qualify for the low-income tier (higher rebate amounts). Households between 80% and 150% AMI qualify for the moderate-income tier. Households above 150% AMI are not eligible. California AMI limits vary significantly by county -- Los Angeles 80% AMI is $76,100 for a 4-person household vs. $102,450 in San Francisco. Check hcd.ca.gov for your county's thresholds.

Yes, though options are narrower in 2026. PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance Program provides free attic insulation and air sealing for income-qualified households (at or below 200% federal poverty guidelines) at no cost. SCE offers weatherization rebates for insulation, air sealing, and duct improvements. The federal 25C insulation tax credit expired December 31, 2025. HOMES rebates -- when they launch -- will also cover insulation as part of whole-home retrofits.