News Summary
San Diego Community Power has introduced a groundbreaking $55 million initiative to enhance energy resilience through solar-plus-battery installations. This program aims to support customers with rebates for installing new systems or adding battery storage to existing solar setups. By encouraging energy conservation, especially during peak hours, the initiative is designed to alleviate pressure on the electric grid and promote sustainability in local communities, particularly for underserved areas. The long-term goals include significantly boosting local battery capacity and creating jobs.
San Diego — San Diego Community Power announced a significant $55 million initiative on Wednesday aimed at promoting energy resilience through rebates and incentives for customers who install solar-plus-battery systems in their homes. This program is expected to alleviate strain on the electric grid while enhancing energy reliability for local communities.
The initiative offers qualifying participants upfront rebates for new rooftop solar systems paired with battery storage, as well as for those adding battery systems to existing solar setups. Customers currently without battery storage can also take advantage of these rebates. The amounts vary based on the size of the installation, with a pilot program conducted last year attracting roughly 1,600 participants and providing average incentives of nearly $7,000 per battery.
To further incentivize energy conservation, customers who discharge 50% of their stored battery electricity during peak hours, specifically between 4 and 9 p.m., will benefit from a performance incentive of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. The board of directors has committed to supporting this program over the course of five years, building upon the previous pilot’s success.
Eligibility for the program mandates that participants must be customers of San Diego Community Power, own a home within its service area, and either install a new solar-plus-battery system or add batteries to their current solar installations. More details, including resources for qualified contractors, can be found on the San Diego Community Power website.
Special attention is given to historically underserved communities, with additional financial support available to assist them in purchasing solar panels. County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer highlighted various benefits this initiative brings, including lower utility bills, cleaner air quality, and job creation for local workers.
Long-term goals of the initiative include achieving 90 megawatt-hours of local battery capacity and 150 megawatts of distributed energy resources by 2035. Local solar industry representatives have pointed out the importance of this program in revitalizing small businesses and enhancing the skill set of local labor to compete against larger, national companies.
The timing of this initiative coincides with the looming expiration of the 30% federal tax credit for residential solar, which is set to end this year. Despite this, experts believe that installing a solar system with an accompanying battery will offer long-term benefits for most customers and can help mitigate current cost-of-living challenges.
San Diego Community Power serves nearly 957,000 customer accounts across several cities and unincorporated regions within San Diego County. Since the emergence of community choice aggregation programs in California in 2002, organizations like San Diego Community Power have been pivotal in promoting renewable energy alternatives and competing with investor-owned utilities.
In summary, the $55 million solar battery savings program by San Diego Community Power presents a valuable opportunity for customers to enhance their energy efficiency, reduce costs, and contribute to a greener environment—all while supporting local energy development and job growth.
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Additional Resources
- Times of San Diego
- Wikipedia: Solar Energy
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google Search: Solar Battery Incentives
- Microgrid Knowledge
- Google Scholar: Solar Battery Storage
- Engineering News-Record
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Renewable Energy
- Solar Power World
- Google News: San Diego Solar Program
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
