The RSSE Rebate: Free or Low-Cost Solar + Battery for Eligible PG&E Homeowners
California just made going solar and adding battery backup more affordable than ever for low-income households in PG&E territory. If you qualify, you could receive over $30,000 in rebates through the Residential Solar Storage Equity (RSSE) program — a game-changing incentive that covers solar AND battery storage.
🔋 What Is RSSE?
The RSSE rebate is part of California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). It's designed to make solar and battery backup accessible to households that need it most — especially those in disadvantaged communities or who struggle with power outages during wildfire season.
💰 How Much Can You Get?
Eligible homeowners may receive:
$3,100 per kilowatt (kW) of solar panels
$1,100 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery storage
👉 For example, a 5 kW solar system + a 13.5 kWh battery like the Tesla Powerwall could qualify for:
$15,500 in solar rebates
$14,850 in battery rebates
= $30,350 total!
✅ Who Qualifies?
To be eligible, you must:
Own and live in a single-family home within PG&E territory
Have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
OR be enrolled in programs like:CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy)
FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance)
ESA (Energy Savings Assistance)
SASH or DAC-SASH (low-income solar programs)
These programs are in place to support Californians who need resilient, affordable energy — especially as climate-driven outages and energy costs rise.
Promotional graphic by Ally Electric and Solar Inc. showing a home with rooftop solar panels and a Tesla battery, highlighting over $30,000 in rebates through California’s Residential Solar Storage Equity (RSSE) program for eligible low-income PG&E customers
| Household Size | Contra Costa County | Alameda County | Marin County | Santa Clara County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $84,600 | $84,600 | $108,300 | $102,300 |
| 2 | $96,650 | $96,650 | $123,800 | $116,900 |
| 3 | $108,750 | $108,750 | $139,250 | $131,500 |
| 4 | $120,800 | $120,800 | $154,700 | $146,100 |
| 5 | $130,500 | $130,500 | $167,100 | $157,800 |
| 6 | $140,150 | $140,150 | $179,500 | $169,500 |
| 7 | $149,800 | $149,800 | $191,850 | $181,200 |
| 8 | $159,500 | $159,500 | $204,250 | $192,900 |