Do I need solar panels to qualify for SGIP?

No. Battery-only storage systems are eligible under General Market, Equity, and Equity Resiliency budgets. Solar panels are only required under the RSSE (Residential Solar & Storage Equity) budget category, which also provides additional solar incentives paired with storage.

How much of my install cost will SGIP cover?

It depends on your tier. General Market customers receive approximately 15% rebate. Equity customers receive $850/kWh, and Equity Resiliency customers receive $1,000/kWh — which can cover 80–100% of battery installation costs. Incentives cannot exceed the total installed system cost.

I rent my home — am I still eligible?

Yes. Income-qualified renters may apply for SGIP including the RSSE budget, with written landlord approval prior to installation. Rebates are not counted as income and will not affect MediCal or Medicare eligibility.

What does PremiumCAD actually provide?

We produce the engineering drawing package required by both the SGIP Program Administrator and your local utility for permit and interconnection approval. This includes single-line diagrams, site plans, load calculations, and full permit-ready CAD packages — typically delivered within 24 business hours.

What happens if the SGIP budget closes before I apply?

SGIP budgets run on first-come, first-served basis and Equity tiers can exhaust quickly. Applicants are placed on a waitlist when budgets close. PremiumCAD's 48-hour turnaround ensures your installer can submit without delays caused by missing engineering documents — the most common reason applications stall.

Which utilities do you work with?

We prepare drawings for all major California utilities — PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Our team knows each utility's specific formatting and technical requirements.

SGIP Applications

Your Battery Rebate,
Fully Engineered.

CPUC-Approved SGIP Applications · California Your battery rebate, fully engineered.

PremiumCAD prepares every permit drawing, single-line diagram, and interconnection document your SGIP application needs — delivered in 24 hours, so you lock in your incentive before the budget closes.

Check My Eligibility

Learn about SGIP

$1,000

MAX REBATE PER KWH

100%

INSTALL COST COVERED (QUALIFYING)

24 Hrs.

DRAWING TURNAROUND

$280M

RSSE BUDGET AUTHORIZED

CPUC Program Aligned

Permit-Ready CAD Packages

48-Hour Standard Turnaround

PG&E · SCE · SDG&E · LADWP · SMUD

Revisions Included

About the Program

What is SGIP?

The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) is California's flagship battery-storage rebate, administered by the CPUC through PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E. It pays qualifying customers cash rebates based on kilowatt-hours of installed storage capacity — reducing or eliminating the upfront cost of a home or commercial battery system.

With the federal ITC expired for homeowner-owned systems in 2026, SGIP is now California's most significant remaining incentive for residential energy storage.
Incentives are reserved first-come, first-served — budget categories can exhaust within weeks of opening.
SGIP rebates are not counted as income and do not affect MediCal or Medicare eligibility.
Both renters and homeowners may qualify — no need to own the property in low-income categories.
PremiumCAD's engineered drawings are required by SGIP program administrators and local AHJs before any reservation can be claimed.

CPUC-Administered

Established in 2001, SGIP is California's longest-running distributed energy incentive program, continuously updated to reflect grid needs and wildfire risk.

Battery Storage Focus

In 2026, SGIP is overwhelmingly focused on lithium-ion battery systems. Solar panels alone do not qualify — but solar paired with storage does under the RSSE budget.

Wildfire Resilience Priority

Customers in HFTD Tier 2 or 3 zones who have experienced 2+ PSPS events receive the highest Equity Resiliency rebate tier — up to $1,000/kWh.

52-Discharge Requirement

All SGIP systems must complete a minimum of 52 full discharge cycles per year. PremiumCAD's sizing calculations ensure your system meets this threshold from day one.

REBATE CATEGORIES

Three rebate levels serve different customer needs. PremiumCAD documents your project to qualify for the highest tier available to you.

SGIP Incentive Tiers

STANDARD REBATE

~15%

of installation cost covered

Available to all utility customers in California with no income requirement. A starting point for customers outside equity-priority zones.

All PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SoCalGas customers
No income verification required
Battery-only or paired storage
Must transition to Solar Billing Plan

EQUITY REBATE

$850/kWh

per kWh of battery capacity installed

Designed for income-qualified households. Reduces battery storage cost to near-zero, ensuring access to energy resilience regardless of income.

Household income ≤ 80% Area Median Income
Most recent tax return as documentation
Battery or solar+storage eligible
Renters eligible with landlord approval
Waitlists may apply — apply early

EQUITY RESILIENCY

$1,000/kWh

Can cover 100% of installation cost

The maximum SGIP rebate. Targets customers facing income hardship combined with critical safety risks from wildfires or medical dependency.

Low income + HFTD Tier 2 or Tier 3 location
2 or more prior PSPS outages, OR
Medical Baseline rate enrollment
Can fully cover installation at no out-of-pocket cost
Storage-only incentive structure

RSSE — Residential Solar & Storage Equity Budget: The CPUC has authorized $280 million for this new budget, covering paired solar + battery systems for income-qualified California residents including renters and publicly-owned utility customers. Applications open at selfgenca.com on a first-come, first-served basis. PremiumCAD prepares your drawings so your installer can submit the moment the budget opens.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility varies by utility, income, location, and customer type. Here are the six main categories PremiumCAD works with every day.

Who Qualifies for SGIP?

Income-Qualified Homeowners

Homeowners at or below 80% of the Area Median Income qualify for Equity or RSSE rebates. Income is verified through most recent federal tax documentation.

Medical Baseline Customers

Customers enrolled on Medical Baseline rates due to life-sustaining equipment at home are prioritized for Equity Resiliency funding for continuous power security

Renters & Tenants

Income-qualified renters may apply with written landlord approval. SGIP rebates are not counted as income and will not affect MediCal or Medicare eligibility.

Commercial & Non-Residential

Businesses, schools, and non-profits qualify under General Market budgets. Higher rebates apply for facilities in fire-threat zones or serving low-income communities.

High Fire-Threat District Residents

Customers in CPUC-designated HFTD Tier 2 or 3 areas with 2 or more PSPS events qualify for the maximum Equity Resiliency tier, often covering 100% of installation.

IOU & POU Utility Customers

Customers of PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, SDG&E, LADWP, and Sacramento Municipal Utility District are all eligible. The utility determines Program Administrator and budget access.

APPLICATION PROCESS

How SGIP applications work

A successful SGIP application requires engineering drawings at step two — that's where PremiumCAD comes in and where most delays happen without us.

1

2

3

4

Eligibility & Budget Check

We confirm your utility, income tier, location risk, and which SGIP budget category is currently open for your project.

PremiumCAD Engineering Package

We produce permit-ready CAD drawings, single-line diagrams, and site plans — typically within 48 business hours of receiving your project details.

Incentive Reservation

Your installer submits the complete application at selfgenca.com, reserving your place in the budget before funds are exhausted.

Install, Inspect & Claim

After installation, inspection, and utility interconnection, the Incentive Claim Form is filed and your rebate is issued directly.

WHAT WE DELIVER

Every document SGIP program administrators and local building departments require, engineered precisely, delivered fast.

PremiumCAD's SGIP Engineering Services

Permit-Ready CAD Drawings
Full electrical and structural drawing sets engineered to your local AHJ's requirements and SGIP program standards. Accepted by all major California utilities.

OVERNIGHT TAT

Interconnection Documentation
All drawings needed for PG&E, SCE, LADWP, and SDG&E interconnection study processes — which must be completed before any incentive claim can be filed.

ALL MAJOR UTILITIES

Single-Line Diagrams (SLD)
Precise SLDs showing your battery, inverter, utility meter, and all interconnection points — required on every SGIP and utility application without exception.

REQUIRED FOR SGIP

Load Calculations & Battery Sizing
Accurate load analysis to size your system correctly for SGIP's 52-discharge-per-year minimum and to maximize your incentive amount per kilowatt-hour.

COMPLIANCE GURANTEED

Site Plans & Layout Design
Detailed site plans covering equipment placement, setbacks, shading analysis, and access paths — critical for both permit approval and program administrator review.

AHJ COMPLIANT

Revisions & Corrections
Fast turnaround on any corrections requested by program administrators or AHJs. We revise until your application is approved — included at no extra charge.

INCLUDED FREE

QUALIFYING SYSTEMS

Battery storage is the dominant SGIP technology in 2026, but the program covers a full range of behind-the-meter distributed energy resources.

Technologies covered by SGIP

Battery Storage

Primary SGIP focus — lithium-ion

Waste Heat to Power

Commercial & industrial

Solar + Storage

Required for RSSE budget

Pressure Reduction Turbines

Pipeline energy recovery

Wind Turbines

Small on-site generation

Microturbines

Natural gas & biogas

Fuel Cells

Hydrogen & molten carbonate

Internal Combustion Engines

Clean fuel configurations

FAQs

Answers to what installers and homeowners ask us most before starting an SGIP application.

Common SGIP Questions