Devastating wildfires and increased fire risk are leading to preventive public safety power shutoffs throughout California. Increasingly, these power shutoffs are made at the sole discretion of utility companies and can leave vulnerable populations without electricity needed for critical functions. In 2019, millions of Californians experienced these power shutoffs, in addition to weather-related outages.
Battery storage technology offers safe, alternative energy during utility outages. A home battery backup system stores electricity for later use and can be configured to provide power for the electric needs that a homeowner decides are most important during a blackout, including critical loads like medical equipment or refrigeration.
GRID aims to bring the benefits of battery storage to families most affected by the negative effects of climate change, such as wildfires and power shutoffs.
California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
GRID is making battery storage technology and installation accessible to qualified clients through the Self-Generation Incentive Program’s Equity Resiliency budget. At the moment we are working in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Central Valley areas only. Qualification is complex and contingent upon approval by the Program Administrators: PG&E, SCE, CSE (Center for Sustainable Energy), SoCalGas. SGIP is a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rebate program that, for qualified households, may cover the full cost of installing battery storage systems to provide power in the event of an outage.
Earlier this year, CPUC allocated $512 million to the SGIP Equity Resiliency budget and raised the incentive amounts for low-income and medically vulnerable customers who live in high fire-threat zones or areas where power previously was shut off at least twice. For more information about SGIP, visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/sgipinfo/
If you are interested in battery storage for your home with GRID, learn more and see if you’re eligible here.