What San Jose Clean Energy pays
These figures come from the EcoHome Rebate page of San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE), which we read on October 1, 2026. Add-on equipment rebates require that you install a heat pump HVAC or a heat pump water heater.
EV circuit prewiring
$750 in an Environmental Justice community.
Electric service panel upgrade
$2,000 in an Environmental Justice community.
Circuit pauser or splitter device
The same amount for both groups.
Dryer or cooking circuit prewiring
$750 in an Environmental Justice community.
A whole electrical readiness package
A heat pump water heater with an EV circuit ($500), a panel upgrade ($1,000) and a circuit pauser ($250) adds $1,750 in add-ons on top of the $3,000 water heater rebate. In an Environmental Justice community the add-ons are $750 + $2,000 + $250 = $3,000. The add-ons are why this program suits households that are electrifying more than one thing at once.
Why prewiring, not the charger
SJCE's logic is to get the electrical work done while an electrician is already on site for the heat pump. Running a 240-volt circuit to the garage costs the same whether or not you own an EV yet, and doing it at the same time as the panel work saves a second visit. If you buy a charger later, you are ready to plug it in.
A pauser can avoid a bigger panel
A circuit pauser or splitter device lets two large loads, such as a dryer and an EV charger, share one circuit by pausing one while the other runs. SJCE rebates $250 for it. In a home with a small panel, a pauser can mean you avoid a full panel upgrade. Ask the electrician to show a load calculation on paper before you decide.
Permits and your electrician
The City of San Jose treats an EV charger or a new circuit as an electrical project, and its appliance installations page lists the permits for appliance work. Ask your electrician which permit they pull and whether the City inspects the circuit. SJCE requires approval before installation, so do not start the electrical work until the confirmation email arrives, unless it is an approved emergency replacement.
Your utility: San Jose Clean Energy
Burbank pays $200 to $500 for the charger itself (Burbank), and LADWP pays up to $1,000 for a charger (Los Angeles). SJCE pays for the wiring instead. San Jose's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 6.7°C, so a garage charger runs fine in winter. Ask SJCE or your electrician about any time-of-use rate that suits overnight charging.
Other money
The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025. We did not find a San Jose Clean Energy rebate for the charger unit itself.
How to claim the SJCE add-on rebates
- Confirm that you are a current SJCE customer and that you are also installing a heat pump HVAC or heat pump water heater.
- Ask your electrician for a written scope listing the EV circuit, any panel upgrade, and any pauser.
- Apply on the EcoHome Rebate page before installation begins, listing the add-ons with the main equipment.
- Wait for SJCE's confirmation email, then install within the 120 days.
- Have the electrician pull the permit and pass inspection.
- Submit your claim with the invoice and permit.
Common questions
Does SJCE pay for an EV charger?
No. It pays $500 for EV circuit prewiring, $1,000 for a panel upgrade and $250 for a circuit pauser, and only when you also install a heat pump HVAC or water heater.
How much is the panel upgrade rebate?
$1,000, or $2,000 in an Environmental Justice community.
Can I claim prewiring for a dryer or cooking circuit?
Yes. Dryer and cooking circuit prewiring each pay $500, or $750 in an Environmental Justice community.
Do I need to apply before the electrical work?
Yes. SJCE requires approval before installation begins.
Is the battery rebate still open?
No. SJCE's battery rebate, $125 per kWh up to $3,250, is closed to new applications.
What to do next
See SJCE's EcoHome Rebate page, or compare all San Jose offers on our San Jose hub.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 1, 2026: San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Rebate, City of San Jose appliance installation permits, San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Payment Plan. All San Jose rebates → Every San Jose Clean Energy rebate →