$1,000/kWh incentives for battery installations are wonderful, but waiting many months to receive payment is not. The new Advance Rebate Program helps electrical contractors do more work by speeding up incentive payments.

Battery systems are a critical need for residents relying on electric water wells or who have electrically powered medical equipment in the home, especially for homeowners who are impacted by Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Events or who live in a High Fire Threat District (HFTD). To help, the California Public Utilities Commission developed the Equity Resilience Budget (ERB) within the long-running Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). The ERB provides $1,000/kWh to help residents with critical needs get the battery storage systems that they need, typically paying the full cost of a $25,000-$30,000 residential installation. As good as the ERB program is though, funds are provided to residents on a reimbursement basis. This has resulted in contractors either restricting the program to customers who can cover the cost upfront, or needing to carry the funding on this for half a year or more.

Those cash-flow problems are now a thing of the past. The Golden State Finance Authority Advance Rebate Payment Program (GSFA ARP) eliminates this out-of-pocket cost barrier by providing Zero interest/zero cost bridge financing on Residential ERB projects. GSFA, in partnership with the California Energy Commission, offers registered contractors the ability to receive 50% of the SGIP incentive upfront and 50% after installation, months faster than the normal ERB program typically pays out. There are no credit checks for residential customers: if they qualify for SGIP ERB, contractors get paid early. Even better, GSFA is launching a marketing campaign to stimulate leads from qualified residents who could greatly benefit from battery storage. Contractors registered with the program will be referred to these leads.

Put simply:

• SGIP ERB will pay for the cost of residential battery installations
• The Advance Rebate Payment Program lets contractors do more work by speeding payments
• The ARP will generate and help send leads to participating contractors

Contractors wishing to participate in this program are required to register with GSFA. Registration is an easy to fill out an online form, and there is no cost to participate in the program. Learn more about the ARP Program and its application process  CLICK HERE

*Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric have already exhausted their funds. Funds are still available in the Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas service territories.