With the advent of the wildfire driven Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, California has made several important new changes to the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), a rebate program that incentivizes the deployment of (among other technologies) battery energy storage systems. As outlined in our recent article, late last year, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) made substantial changes to the program designed to support battery energy storage deployment in Disadvantaged or Low-Income Communities. Once again, additional changes have been made to increase the funding and extend the reach of the program. Depending on the size & location of the project, the newly modified SGIP program is poised to pay for between 20% – 100% of the cost of a battery project. These program updates are scheduled to take effect in March (for Small Residential Systems) and April (for Non-Residential Systems) of this year.

The following tables outline the various incentive levels and qualifiers as of the CPUC’s latest Decision (D.20-01-021). TerraVerde continues to monitor this program closely and will provide additional updates as they become available.

As independent advisors, TerraVerde is supporting CCAs and Public Agencies in evaluating and deploying solar PV & battery energy storage programs. Over the past 10 years, we have developed over 100 MW and over $400M worth of solar & battery programs. For more information about SGIP and to learn more about our feasibility analysis, program design, and project development services, reach out to us at hello@terraverde.energy.

SGIP BASE INCENTIVE & (NEW!) RESILIENCY ADDER

  Base Incentive: 

Small Residential Systems (under 10 kW)

 Base Incentive:

Large-Scale Systems (over 10 kW)

 Resiliency Adder
Incentive Level $0.15 – $0.40 / Wh

(varies by region)

 $0.25 – $0.40 / Wh

(varies by region)

 + $0.15 / Wh

(on top of Base Incentive)
Qualifiers
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory)
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory)
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory), AND
  • A Critical Facility that provides services to one or more communities in a High Fire Threat Zone or that has experienced two or more PSPS events

 

SGIP EQUITY INCENTIVE

 Single Family Equity Incentive Multifamily Equity Incentive

Non-Residential Equity Incentive
Incentive Level $0.85 / Wh $0.85 / Wh $0.85 / Wh
Qualifiers
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory),AND
  • Household income < 80% area median and home is subject to resale restriction or equity sharing agreement, OR
  • Household income is < 80% of area median income and house is in a Qualified Census Tract, Empowerment Zone, or Enterprise Community, OR
  • Customer was previously designated eligible for Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory), AND
  • Operated to provide deed-restricted low-income residential housing with at least five rental housing units, AND
  • In a DAC or Low-Income Community
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory), AND
  • Either a government agency, educational institution, non-profit organization, or small business, AND
  • Either located in a DAC or Low-Income Community, OR
  • At least half of census tracts served are DAC or Low-Income Communities

 

SGIP EQUITY RESILIENCY INCENTIVE

 Residential Equity Resiliency Incentive Non-Residential Equity Resiliency Incentive
Incentive Level $1.00 / Wh $1.00 / Wh
Qualifiers
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory), AND
  • Either located in a High Fire Threat Zone, OR
  • Have experienced more than 1 PSPS event, AND
  • Either in a DAC or Low-Income Community, OR
  • On a medical baseline rate due to dependence on life support devices, OR
  • With conditions for which additional heating or cooling is medically necessary, OR
  • Dependent on electric pump wells for water supply
  • Investor Owned Utility Customer (or customer of CCAs in IOU territory), AND
  • A Critical Facility, AND
  • Either located in or serves at least one DAC or Low-Income area that is also in a High Fire Threat Zone or has experienced two or more PSPS events

 

PROGRAM QUALIFIER DESCRIPTIONS

  • Investor Owned Utility Customer: receives electricity or gas service from PG&E, SCE, SoCal Gas, or SDG&E (including CCAs in these regions)
  • Disadvantaged Community (DAC): any census tract that ranks in the top 25 percent most affected census tracts in the most recently release version of CalEnviroScreen
  • Low-Income Community: (1) census tract w/ median income ≤ 80% CA median, or (2) census tract w/ median income ≤ county specific low-income threshold (determined by CA Dept of Housing and Community Development), or (3) at least 80% of households have income ≤ 60% area median income
  • High Fire Threat Zone: Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire Threat District (HFTD) as designated by the CPUC
  • PSPS Events: Public Safety Power Shutoff events
  • Critical Facility: includes police & fire stations, emergency response providers, emergency operations centers, 911 call centers, hospitals & health care facilities, public and private gas, electric, water, wastewater or flood control facilities, small business grocery stores, or locations designated by the utility to provide assistance during power shutoffs