Great Incentive Programs Available in 2025: Save with 3CE Residential Battery Rebates, EV Charger Incentives from CALSTART, and main panel upgrade rebates from SCE

Great Incentive Programs Available in 2025: Save with 3CE Residential Battery Rebates, EV Charger Incentives from CALSTART, and main panel upgrade rebates from SCE

Clean Coalition wants to raise awareness for three amazing incentive programs that are available to help Central Coast residents deploy distributed energy resources. The first program is Central Coast Community Energy’s (3CE) new residential battery energy storage (BESS) program, which offers $500/kWh to cover the cost of deploying energy storage at a residence that is served by 3CE. When stacked with other incentive programs like the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and California’s Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), the net cost of storage is less than 30% of the original price. The second program, called Communities in Charge, is an electric vehicle charger program funded by the California Energy Commission and administered by non-profit CALSTART. Through Communities in Charge, facilities that serve the public, including multi-family housing sites, are eligible to receive up to $6,500 or 100% of the cost of deploying a level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charger. The third program, from Southern California Edison (SCE), called Charge Ready, covers the cost of main panel upgrades for panels under 200 amps—up to $4,200—to enable the deployment of a level 2 EV charger at low-income residential sites or sites located in disadvantaged communities. 

Let’s explore the key details of these programs, including eligibility requirements and specific examples, to showcase how households, businesses, and tribes can benefit.

3CE Residential BESS Incentive

3CE’s new BESS incentive program aims to increase deployments of behind-the-meter storage by providing $300/kWh (up to $7,800) for sites that do not have generation to install BESS and $500/kWh (up to $13,000) for sites with existing generation, CARE/FERA customers, and medical baseline customers. When stacked on top of the ITC and SGIP, more than 70% of the cost of a BESS will be covered.

Eligibility and details to know:

• To receive the rebate, a customer must take service on the Net Billing Tariff, which is also called the Solar Billing Plan.
• Customers with no generation on-site as well as NEM 1.0 and NEM 2.0 customers must make the switch to the Net Billing Tariff.
• The battery must be programmed to discharge at least 50% during the hours of 4-9 pm.
• BESS size must be above 5 kWh. Maximum rebate is capped at 26 kWh.
• Storage must be deployed behind-the-meter at sites with a single meter.
• Customers must allow 3CE to track use of the battery to verify discharge during 4-9 pm.

Example: A single-family housing site deploying a BESS

Consider a single-family housing site with existing on-site solar generation deploying one Tesla Powerwall 3 (5.8 kW / 13.5 kWh), with an installed cost of $1,500/kWh

Costs: $1,500/kWh * 13.5 kWh = $20,250

Eligible Incentives: $14,850

3CE BESS: $500/kWh * 13.5kWh = $6,750

ITC Discount: 30% * $20,250 = $6,075

SGIP Discount: $150/kWh * 13.5kWh = $2,025

Net Cost: $20,250 – $14,850 = $5,400 (total net cost)

Communities in Charge

Communities in Charge is a statewide program funding the deployment of Level 2 EV chargers at sites that can be accessed by numerous different EVs like multi-family housing, public agencies, small business sites, etc. The Central Region (dark blue in the map below)—spanning Ventura County in the South to Alameda County in the North—has been allocated $9 million of the available $30 million.

The money can be used to fund the full incurred cost of deploying a level 2 charger, either 100% of the project cost or up to $6,500. Beyond the base incentive, multi-family sites are eligible for an additional $2,000 and tribal sites are eligible for an additional $3,500 per charger. Critically, the funding can be used to cover the cost of any grid upgrades required to install the charger.

Eligibility and details to know:

• Application window: 11/14/2024 to 01/31/2025
• An applicant may not receive other state or federal EV charging funds (though use of the ITC and Low Carbon Fuel Standards is permitted) and is not eligible if the site is already receiving funding for EV charging through another program.
• Sites located in a disadvantaged community (DAC) or low-income community (LIC) will receive high scores and are more likely to receive funding.
• Projects that will score the highest (Tier 1) should include: Site Verification Form + Final Site Design + Issued Building Permit + Eligible Equipment Selection
•  Chargers must be capable of charging at 6.2 kW or greater, must be Energy Star certified and must be networked.
• Only light duty vehicles may charge.
• Multi-family housing sites must have five or more units. Single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and individual mobile homes are not eligible.
• Eligible facilities include public agencies, multi-family housing, office parks, hotels, restaurants, small businesses, gas stations, malls, faith-based facilities, schools and universities, stores, etc…
•  Projects must be built within 270 days of receiving the award.

Communities in Charge scoring criteria

Example: A business interested in deploying EV charging on-site

Consider a business interested in four level 2 EV chargers. Note, the incentive awarded will be limited to 100% of the incurred project costs.

Costs: $4,000 ($1,500 per charger + $2,500 per install) + $10,000 (assuming significant grid upgrade costs)

Eligible incentives: $6,500 (base)

Net Cost: ($6,500 * 4 chargers) – (4,000 * 4 chargers) – $10,000 (grid upgrades) = $0

For a business interested in deploying four level 2 EV chargers (for a total of $16,000) and requiring $10,000 in grid upgrade costs, the $6,500 incentive per charger will completely offset the project costs, resulting in a net cost of $0.

Charge Ready

SCE’s Charge Ready program provides up to $4,200 for low-income households to fully cover the cost of upgrading a main panel by an additional 200 amps to enable the deployment of a Level 2 EV charger. The extra cost associated with a main panel upgrade can often be a dealbreaker for those seeking to install a level 2 EV charger. Ensuring funds are available for low-income residents is essential for breaking down the barriers associated with electrification. The other investor-owned utilities, PG&E and SDG&E, both have other EV rebate programs, but Charge Ready is the only program available offering funds to reduce the cost of main panel upgrades required to deploy an EV charger. 

Eligibility and details to know:

• Low-income households are eligible to receive up to $4,200. 
• Households in disadvantaged communities are eligible to receive $2,100.
• The main panel must be under 200 amps to qualify.
• The site must be within SCE’s service territory.

Example: A low-income household interested in installing a level 2 EV charger

Consider a low-income household that requires a main panel upgrade before the installation of a Level 2 EV charger can be completed.

Costs: $4,200 (cost of upgrading the main panel to 200 amps)

Eligible Incentives: $4,200 

Net Cost: $4,200 – $4,200 = $0 

For a low-income residential household upgrading the main panel prior to deploying a level 2 EV charger, the net cost of the panel upgrade will be $0.

3CE’s Residential BESS program, Communities in Charge, and SCE’s Charge Ready program provide important pathways to reduce upfront costs, encourage sustainable practices, and empower communities to achieve energy independence. These generous incentives make valuable technologies like battery storage and EV chargers more accessible and affordable. We encourage everyone to apply promptly! Funding may go quickly once folks start to realize what a great opportunity these programs offer.

Each BESS, main panel upgrade, or EV charger that is deployed will help to create a cleaner, greener Central Coast!