What SDG&E customers can claim in 2026
We read SDG&E's pages on October 5, 2026. Each card shows its status. SDG&E's rebates page contradicts itself, so we treat the coupon list as closed.
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA)
No-cost smart thermostats, lighting and water fixtures for owners and renters. The Basic Plus tier adds refrigerators, HVAC, water heaters including heat pump water heaters, insulation, duct sealing and washers. Income up to 250% of the federal poverty guideline, such as $82,500 for four people.
CHERP coaching and support payments
For SDG&E customers in a home with gas appliances: tools, 1:1 coaching with an Energy Consultant and support payments for completing eligible electric upgrades. Funds are first come, first served.
Golden State Rebates retail coupons
The page says the retail offerings ended, though it still lists a $75 thermostat, $40 Amazon thermostat, $500 heat pump water heater replacing electric and $15 room air conditioner. Do not buy expecting one.
San Diego Community Power battery rebate
A separate provider's rebate for a battery charged by your own solar. It is not an SDG&E program, and it applies only to San Diego Community Power customers.
Net billing for new solar
Customers applying for new solar after April 14, 2023 are on the Net Billing Tariff, which credits exports well below retail.
Federal 25C and 25D credits
They do not apply to 2026 installs.
Who SDG&E serves, and who actually pays
SDG&E delivers electricity and gas across San Diego County. Some customers there buy their electricity from San Diego Community Power, which runs its own programs, so the name on the top of your bill and the name on the rebate can differ. Our San Diego Community Power page covers its battery offer. If you read about a rebate, check who pays it before you plan around it.
The retail coupons are gone
SDG&E's rebates page opens with a notice that the Golden State Rebates retail offerings have ended, then lists four products under Current Products. It also says it does not honour post-purchase rebates. We read that as closed, because a coupon you cannot get is not a rebate. If a retailer advertises one, ask for the coupon before you buy.
Free help if your income qualifies
The Energy Savings Assistance program is the largest real offer here, and it is for owners and renters alike. A household of four qualifies up to $82,500 a year from June 2026 to May 2027, or through programs such as Medicaid, CalFresh and SSI. A basic visit can bring a smart thermostat and efficient lighting. Documentation unlocks heat pump water heaters, HVAC, insulation and duct sealing. Apply through the ESA interest form or the contractor numbers on SDG&E's page.
Coaching for gas homes
CHERP is for customers in a home with gas appliances. It offers free tools and coaching and, for people who complete eligible electric upgrades, customer support payments. We could not read the payment amounts, so we show none. The page says funds are first come, first served and can change without notice, so apply before you sign a contract.
Solar and batteries
New solar customers are on the Net Billing Tariff, so a battery changes the economics more than panels alone. San Diego Community Power's battery rebate depends on your retail provider, and its rules require the battery to charge from your own solar. If your supplier is SDG&E rather than the community provider, ask whether it has a battery program of its own.
How to claim SDG&E help
- Check your bill to see whether SDG&E or San Diego Community Power supplies your electricity.
- Check ESA income limits and apply first if you may qualify.
- If you heat with gas, ask CHERP about coaching and support payments before signing a contract.
- Do not rely on retail coupons that SDG&E says have ended.
- For a battery, read the San Diego Community Power rules first.
Our pages for SDG&E customers
- San Diego: SDG&E territory.
- Chula Vista: SDG&E territory.
- Escondido: SDG&E territory.
Guides
Common questions
Does SDG&E pay a heat pump rebate?
We found none open. Its retail coupon program has ended, and its electrification help is free coaching and support payments rather than a flat rebate.
Who qualifies for SDG&E's free upgrades?
Owners and renters in a house, condo, apartment or mobile home who take part in programs such as Medicaid or CalFresh, or whose income is at most 250% of the federal poverty guideline, such as $82,500 for a household of four.
Are the $75 thermostat and $500 water heater coupons still available?
SDG&E says the retail offerings have ended and does not honour post-purchase rebates, so do not count on them.
Is the federal solar credit available?
No. The 25D credit ended for installs after December 31, 2025.
Is San Diego Community Power the same as SDG&E?
No. It supplies electricity to many cities and runs its own rebates, while SDG&E delivers it. Check your bill.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: SDG&E rebates, SDG&E Energy Savings Assistance, CHERP: Customer Home Electrification Readiness Program, CPUC: Net Billing Tariff. All rebate programs →